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Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said he hears the frustration of voters who handed control of the Senate to Republicans in an election that is being viewed as a repudiation of the White House.

"To those of you who voted, I hear you," Obama said Wednesday in his first public remarks since the election. To those who didn't vote, "I hear you too."

Obama said every election offers a "moment for reflection," but declined to use language like "shellacking" as he has in the past to characterize the scale of the defeat.

"There is no doubt Republicans had a good night," Obama said.

The election left Republicans with solid control of Congress, holding at least 52 seats in the Senate and the largest majority in the House since World War II, according to CNN projections.

Before Obama appeared before the cameras, Mitch McConnell, who is in line to be the next majority leader, challenged the President to heed the message sent by the election.

McConnell said the President could wield his veto and confront Republicans. But he advised Obama to follow Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who built domestic legacies despite often having to deal with a Congress controlled by opposing parties.

McConnell said those two presidents are "good examples of accepting the government you have rather than fantasizing about the government you wished you had."

Sen. John McCain

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Obama reacts to rout: I hear you