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Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., easily defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in a runoff election in Louisiana on Saturday, adding to the GOP's already strong performance in the midterm elections last month.

With all precincts reporting, unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State show Cassidy defeating Landrieu 56 percent to 44 percent.

Cassidy's victory in the runoff election gives Republicans a net pickup of nine seats and a 54 to 46 majority in the Senate beginning next month.

"This victory belongs to you," Cassidy told his supporters after the race was called. "The people of Louisiana voted for a government that serves us but does not tell us what to do."

A three-term congressman, Cassidy spent much of his campaign tying Landrieu to President Barack Obama, who is deeply unpopular in Louisiana.

Landrieu highlighted areas of opposition with the administration, including on the Keystone XL pipeline, but was unable to overcome the Republican wave.

The three-term Senator's fate was seemingly sealed when National Democratic groups stopped running ads, a move Landrieu decried as leaving "a soldier on the field."

Cassidy's victory means the Deep South will only be represented by Republican Senators when the new Congress is sworn in early next year.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., who is expected to become Senate Majority Leader, released a statement congratulating Cassidy on his victory and welcoming him to the Senate Republican Conference.

McConnell noted that Cassidy was the sponsor of a House bill to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The bill fell just short of approval in the Senate.

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Republican Bill Cassidy Wins Louisiana Senate Runoff