Republicans Sweep U.S. Mid-Term Elections
November 5, 2014
Yesterday’s mid-term elections were a rout for Democrats in Washington as well as in state capitals across much of the United States. Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate with at least 52 seats and possibly 2 additional seats with elections in Louisiana and Alaska undecided. (The contest in Louisiana will not be settled until December, when Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu will face Republican Representative Bill Cassidy in a runoff election.) The shift in the Senate elevates Mitch McConnell (R., Kentucky) to majority leader and demotes Harry Reid (D., Nevada) to minority leader.
In the House of Representatives, Republicans enlarged their majority from 233 to 243 seats, the party’s greatest advantage in the House since the 1940′s. Democrats will control only 178 seats when the 114th Congress convenes this January.
Mitch McConnell (R., Kentucky) is the new majority leader of the U.S. Senate. (U.S. Senate)
In state elections, Republicans gained control of 31 governorships, up from 29. In exit polls, nearly 6 out of 10 voters stated they were “dissatisfied” or “angry” at the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama as well as at leaders in Congress, both Republican and Democratic.
