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Democrats win us house, on brink of senate power
Democrats swept Republicans from power in the U.S. House of Representatives and moved to the brink of capturing the Senate, where their final victory could be delayed for weeks by a possible recount in Virginia. Democrats rolled up gains of about 30 seats in the House in Tuesday's elections, riding to a huge victory on a wave of public discontent with the Iraq war, corruption and Republican President George W. Bush's leadership.
In a harsh setback to Bush and Republicans, Democrats picked up four of the six Senate seats they needed for a majority and led in the race for the other two in Montana and Virginia, threatening to take control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in 12 years. An expected recount and possible legal challenges in Virginia could delay a final result, dredging up memories of the 2000 presidential election recount that lasted five weeks. Virginia Democrat James Webb had a 7,700-vote advantage over Republican Sen. George Allen out of more than 2 million cast. A potential recount could stretch into December, leaving Senate control uncertain. The narrow governing majorities in Congress, especially the Senate, were almost certain to spawn more partisan gridlock and political warfare during Bush's final two years in the White House. Bush scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. on Wednesday to discuss the results. Democratic control of the House will make outspoken liberal Rep. Nancy Pelosi the first female Speaker and could slam the brakes on much of Bush's agenda and increase pressure for a change of course in Iraq. All 435 House seats, 33 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 of the 50 governorships were at stake. Democrats beat Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate and one of the Democrats' biggest targets this year.
Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, running as an independent, beat Democratic anti-war challenger Ned Lamont, who had defeated the former vice presidential nominee in the Democratic primary. Democrats also scored big wins in governors' races, taking six seats from Republicans and winning a national majority that could give them an edge in the 2008 presidential election. The Democratic sweep in the House reached deep into Republican bastions like Indiana, where three incumbents lost, and Kansas, where incumbent Rep. Jim Ryun was defeated. "We're finally beginning to become a national party again after 12 years," said Democratic Party chief Howard Dean, who has worked over the last year to build up party operations in all 50 states. The Democratic victory gives the party control of House legislative committees that could investigate the Bush administration's most controversial decisions on foreign, military and energy policy. Democrats have promised votes on much of their agenda within the first 100 hours of taking House power, including new ethics rules, a rise in the minimum wage, reduced subsidies to the oil industry and improvements in border and port security.
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