Difference between revisions of "1958 Midterm Elections"

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-In the '''midterm election of 1958''', the [[Democratic Party]] gained 49 seats in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and 16 seats in the [[U.S. Senate]] from the [[Republican Party]], cementing their majorities. Democrats also picked up six governorships and 686 state legislative seats.
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-Democrats had a narrow majority in both Houses of Congress, while there was a [[Conservative Coalition]] between [[Republican]]s and southern Democrats. Following his landslide reelection in 1956, the aging [[President Eisenhower]]'s popularity began to wane. The deep 1957-1958 [[recession]] and anger amoung organized labor because of right-to-work laws led to strong Democratic gains that arguably paved the way for the [[Great Society]]. Democrats also attacked Republicans for desegregating public schools. Eisenhower's credibility was further weakened by the [[Soviet Union]]'s launch of ''[[Sputnik]]'', and Republicans found themselves on defence.
-Republicans never came close to regaining control of the House until 1994 and the Senate until 1980.
-Despite Democrat [[John F. Kennedy]]'s presidential victory over [[Richard M. Nixon]], Democrats still lost 20 House seats in 1960.
-[[category:Politics]]
-[[category:Republican Party]]
-[[category:Democratic Party]]