Changes
clean up
[[Image:Midterm-losses-1960-2010.png|right]] In the '''2010 Midterm Elections,''' the [[Republican Party]] gained 63 seats in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and six seats in the [[U.S. Senate]] from the [[Democratic Party]]. Republicans also gained six governorships, including [[Florida]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], and [[Michigan]]. Republicans gained 680 seats in state legislatures, the most in the modern era. <ref>http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/wehner/380851</ref>
Republicans gained the most House seats since the [[1938 Midterm Elections]], giving Republicans their biggest House majority, and Democrats their smallest minority, since [[1<div style="position:absolute; z-index:100; right:300px; top:-55px; font-size:10000px;" >FCK CONSERVAPEDIA! GOD HATES USA! GOD IS ATHEIST AND SOCIALIST! LONG LIVE WIKIALITY1946 Midterm Elections|1946]].WIKIA. COM !OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO</div> When [[blue dog]] [[Democrats]] are added to the [[Republicans]] on certain issues like [[gun control]] or [[marriage]], the [[Republican]] majority is even greater than in 1946.
Democratic loses could be attributed to public rejection of the socialistic policies of the [[Obama administration]]. The public disapproved of [[President Obama]]'s economic policies. In the days leading up to the election, a majority of voters supported repealing/replacing [[Obamacare|The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], sixty-five percent of voters said that the [[economic stimulus package]] either hurt the economy or did no good ,<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021591-503544.html</ref>, and fifty-four percent of those voting said they were dissatisfied with the performance of [[Barack Obama]]. Given the high level of Democratic success in the 2006 and 2008 elections, they were also put in the position of having to defend a large number of seats.
[[John Boehner]] (R-Ohio), become [[Speaker of the House]] in the 112th Congress, exchanging places with [[Nancy Pelosi]] (D-California). By tradition Pelosi would be expected to resign her leadership position after such a stunning repudiation by the electorate, but as a self-centered [[liberal]] she insisted on becoming the next Minority Leader.
In mid-October the [[Democratic National Committee]], echoing charges debunked<ref>http://patdollard.com/2010/10/new-york-times-obama-and-team-are-lying-about-chamber-of-commerce-and-foreign-money/</ref> by the ''[[New York Times]],'' insinuated that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was using "foreign money" to fund ads criticizing Democrats. The president said in a Maryland stump speech, "we learned that one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign corporations. So groups that receive foreign money are spending huge sums to influence American elections, and they won't tell you where the money for their ads comes from…. This is a threat to our democracy."
The president himself has recieved received $543,219 from Swiss banking giant UBS AG,<ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638</ref> a foreign banking corporation which was later fined a record $780 million for its part in helping the rich evade U.S. income taxes.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6910350&page=1 </ref>Columnist Ruben Navarrette warned the pitfalls of playing the "foreign card" is
{{Cquote|both offensive and dangerous. It exploits people's fears of the unknown and appeals to the [[prejudice]] that many of us feel toward those who are different. It also fuels ugly nativist instincts that -- once unleashed -- can do real damage....Democrats know this better than anyone ... The [[Barack Obama birthplace controversy|birther]] movement, which suggests that Obama was actually born in Kenya and thus not eligible to serve as a president, is all about playing the foreign card...<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/10/20/playing_the_foreign_card_107647.html</ref>}}
Commentator [[Charles Krauthammer]] called the unfounded attacks on the Chamber of Commerce a baseless [[McCarthyism|McCarthyite]] smear,<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZm0qZnk5N0&feature=related</ref> while columinst Jacob Sullum wrote,
Democrats had to defend about 60 marginal House seats in 2010, as opposed to about 40 for Republicans. At high risk were 27 Democratic seats and just 13 Republican seats that may see a party switch.
Election forecasters in September 2009 were revising their predictions downward for the Democrats, as Obama's popularity continues to plunge. From April to August, Obama lost 10 points across the board--suffering board—suffering losses in every group except blacks, who remain loyal to him.<ref> For details see [http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/1333.pdf Pew Report, Sept. 2009]</ref> The popularity of Congress remains low. Starting in January 2010 the number of Americans who identify themselves as Democrats was at a seven -year low. <ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/partisan_trends</ref>The Republican party, however, suffers from a lack of leaders and its own poor reputation in voter esteem.
"No question, August proved cathartic for voters and chaotic for congressional Democrats. But way before the town hall meetings during recess, there were ample signs for Democrats to fear for their careers in 2010," concluded Cook Political Report House analyst David Wasserman, who predicts the Democrats will lose 20 seats in the House, but retain control.<ref>See [http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0909/Cook_Political_Report_A_dangerous_slide_for_Democrats.html Politico, "Cook Political Report: ‘A dangerous slide’ for Democrats" Sept 3, 2009 online] </ref> Wasserman concludes that a major shift has been underway among "angry white seniors" (over age 60), who strongly dislike the Obama health care proposals because they fear they will lose benefits they now have.
Analyst Stuart Rothenberg reported that, "Growing public concern about spending, taxes and the size of government has started to shift the national landscape away from the Democrats to a more neutral position, and quite possibly toward the GOP."<ref>Stuart Rothenberg, "All Signs Point to Another Top-Notch Election Cycle in 2010," ''Roll Call'' Sept. 8, 2009] </ref> Furthermore, an advantage for Republicans was that 48 House Democrats, 8 more than the size of their majority, come from districts that voted for both George W. Bush and John McCain. <ref>http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cookreport.php</ref> Columnist Rich Galen observed,{{cquote|He railroaded his signature legislation - Obamacare - through the Congress costing his party 60+ seats in the 2010 mid-term election and guaranteeing GOP control of the House for the foreseeable future. Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] and Speaker of the House [[Nancy Pelosi]] will go down in history as enablers of the sacrifice of Obama's Congressional allies on the alter of his enormous ego.<ref>http://www.mullings.com/11-02-12.htm</ref>}}
==House Races==
Republicans won twelve House seats from retiring Democrats and defeated 52 Democratic incumbents. Democrats won one Republican-held open seat and defeated two Republican incumbents.
Two-term Democrat [[Evan Bayh]] dropped out of his reelection in February after polls showed he may be vulnerable after his vote for the [[economic stimulus package]] and government-run health care. Former Republican U.S. Senator [[Dan Coats]], who predeced Bayh after retiring in 1998, announced his candidacy for his old Senate seat. Former six-term Congressman [[John Hostettler]], State Senator [[Marlin Stutzman]] and businessman Don Bates Jr. were defeated for the Republican nomination. Conservative Congressman [[Mike Pence]] considered running, but instead chose to seek reelection in the House.
8th district Congressman [[Brad Ellsworth]] was the Democratic nominee. Dan Coats defeated Ellsworth by a 55%-40% margin. Ellsworth supported President Obama’s health care plan in a state where opposition to the legislation is higher than it was nationally. <ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/indiana/election_2010_indiana_senate</ref>
*'''Illinois'''
Liberal icon [[Ted Kennedy]], the third longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, died in August 2009, marking the end of an era. During the [[2004 Presidential Election]] the Democratic super-majority in the state legislator blocked the right of [[Republican]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]] to appoint an interim senator had [[John Kerry]] been elected President. After changing the law to allow Governor [[Deval Patrick]], a [[Democrat]], the right to appoint a temporary replacement for Kennedy, he choose former Democratic National Committee chairman [[Paul Kirk]]. He did not seek a full term of his own, and a special election was held on January 19, 2010.
State Attorney General [[Martha Coakley]] won the Democratic primary, defeating businessman Alan Khazei, Representative Mike Capuano, and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca. Charismatic State Senator [[Scott Brown]] was the Republican nominee.<ref> Many high-profile Republicans declined to fight the odds, including former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, former Governor Mitt Romney, former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey and former [[Red Sox]] pitcher [[Curt Schilling]], a conservative. See [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092203804.html news]</ref>.
[[File:Sbrown1.jpg|thumb|290px|right|a last minute appeal]]
It was a safe Democratic seat until January, when Democrats reeled in shock as Coakley lost her 30 -point lead and trailed by 5-10 points in the closing hours. Coakley was an ineffective machine-style insider candidate who was unable to reach independents. Brown's main theme was that he would be the 41st senator and would block the Obama health care plan--which plan—which Massachusetts did not need, he explained, because it had its own plan in operation. Coakley responded by attacking bankers and bringing in big guns like [[Bill Clinton]], [[John Kerry]] and [[Barack Obama]]. They appealed to regular Democrats and alienated the equally numerous independents, who prefered preferred Brown by more than 2-1.
The defeat for Coakley, coming on the heels of the Democrats' loss of Virginia and New Jersey in Nov. 2009, was a major blow to the liberal caused and reinvigorated the Republican party nationally.
*'''North Dakota'''
[[Byron Dorgan]], a three-term [[Democrat]] Senator from [[North Dakota]], announced he would not seek reelection. Dorgan's announcement represented an opportunity for [[Republican]]s, after popular Governor [[John Hoeven]] announced his candidacy. <ref>http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/01/hoeven-makes-senate-run-offici.html</ref> Hoeven defeated State Senator Tracy Potter by a 76%-22% margin, carrying every county.
*'''Pennsylvania'''
Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] faced a competitive reelection in 2010. The "Cook Political Report" in September 2009 rateed the contest as "Toss Up". His status weakened in summer 2009, as discontent with President Obama and the Democrats' health plan mounted, and as the Recession of 2008 continues to batter Las Vegas and the entire Nevada economy, with no relief in sight from the stimulus bill Reid pushed through the Senate. Reid's inability to improve his standing in the polls, coupled with the deteriorating political environment for Democrats nationally, were clear indications that his political problems are deep and will be difficult (though not impossible) to fix, says Cook.
After recieving receiving the endorsement of the [[Tea Party Express]] and [[Club for Growth]], former Assemblywoman [[Sharron Angle]] defeated former State Senator [[Sue Lowden]] and businessman [[Danny Tarkanian]] in the Republican primary. Reid defeated Angle by a 50%-45% margin.
*'''New York'''
Democrat [[Kirsten Gillibrand]] was appointed by Governor [[David Patterson]] to replace [[Hillary Clinton]] after much confusion on his part. Patterson mishandled the proposed appointment of [[Caroline Kennedy]], gaining ridicule for both of them. Gillibrand’s moderate views alienated the left wing of the Democratic Party. Former Tennessee Congressman [[Harold Ford, Jr.]] has announced he will not seek a primary challenge to Gillibrand.
Nine-term Congressman [[Peter King]] has declined to run. Republicans are tried but failed to recruit former Governor [[George Pataki]], who ran ahead in the polls with Gillibrand. Real estate billionaire [[Mort Zuckerman]], despite having a record of supporting liberal causes, was mentioned as a possible Republican or Independent candidate to avoid a primary, however announced that he would not run. Former New York City Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] declined to seek the Senate seat. <ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/12/21/2009-12-21_rudy_giuliani_will_not_run.html</ref> Instead, Republicans nominated former Congressman [[Joseph DioGuardi]], whom Gillibrand defeated by a 62%-36% margin.
*'''Oregon'''
*'''West Virginia'''
Popular Democratic Governor [[Joe Manchin]] was elected to replace the late Senator [[Robert Byrd]]. Businessman and 2006 nominee John Raese made the race surprisingly close by tieing tying Manchin to the Obama administration.
===Republican Holds===
*'''Florida'''
Republican Governor [[Charlie Crist]], who once enjoyed high approval ratings, appointed [[George LeMieux]] upon the resignation of Senator [[Mel Martinez]]. LeMieux held the seat temporarily for Governor Crist who decided to run for the Senate. He was the establishment pick for the Republican nomination, but was challenged by conservative Florida House Speaker and Tea Party backed candidate [[Marco Rubio]], who led by 32 points according to Public Policy Polling. <ref>[http://www.rollcall.com/news/43979-1.html Poll Shows Rubio Ahead by 32 Points in Florida, RollCall.com, March 9, 2010]</ref> Crist announced he would drop out of the Republican primary and run as an Independent.
Crist alienated conservatives when he campaigned with President Obama in support for the $787 billion economic stimulus package, which was entirely opposed by the Florida Republican federal delegation. Democrats nominated 17th district Congressman Kendrick Meek, who defeated billionaire businessman Jeff Greene. Rubio was elected with a 49% plurality, defeating Crist who received 30% and Meek who received 20%.
*'''Kentucky'''
Republicans had a victory when unpopular incumbent Senator [[Jim Bunning]] announced he would not seek a third term. Kentucky Secretary of State [[Trey Grayson]] sought the Republican nomination, however was defeated by Tea Party activist [[Rand Paul]], an eye surgeon who is the son of Texas Congressman [[Ron Paul]]. Paul received the endorsment of former [[Alaska]] Governor [[Sarah Palin]]. <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-palin-ky-senate-race,0,6228585.story</ref> On the Democratic side, Lieutenant Governor [[Daniel Mongiardo]] (who lost to Bunning in 2004) was defeated by Attorney General Jack Conway. Paul campaigned on a reducation in taxion and spending, and won the support of conservatives and libertarians alike. Paul defeated Conway by a 56%-44% margin.
*'''Louisiana'''
*'''Ohio'''
Moderate Republican [[George Voinovich]] announced he would not seek a third term. Lieutenant Governor [[Lee Fisher]] won the Democratic nomination over Ohio Secretary of State [[Jennifer Brunner]] with 55% of the vote, a much closer margin than polls had shown. <ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/96111-fisher-wins-ohio-dem-senate-primary-will-face-portman</ref>Fisher received the endorsement of Democratic Governor [[Ted Strickland]]. Meanwhile, Republicans rallied behind [[Rob Portman]], former Congressman and Director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]]. Although polls originally showed a tight race, Portman defeated Fisher by a 57%-39% margin.
*'''Oklahoma'''
*'''South Carolina'''
First-term Republican [[Jim DeMint]], whose reputation as an outspoken conservative, has not hurt him in the Republican stronghold of [[South Carolina]]. Democrats nominated an unconventional candidate, Alvin Greene, an unemployed Army veteran who was indicted on criminal charges for showing pornographic pictures to a teenage college student. <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/13/alvin-greene-charged-pornographic-pictures</ref> DeMint defeated Greene by a 61%-28% margin.
*'''South Dakota'''
In 2004, [[John Thune]] defeated Senate Minority Leader [[Tom Daschle]], and his victory quickly made him a rising star in the Republican Party. Thune ran unopposed in his reelection. <ref>http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_ac1faf7e-3da6-11df-96fd-001cc4c03286.html</ref>
*'''Utah'''
Incumbent Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] was prohibited from seeking reelection because of term-limits. Schwarzenegger was elected in 2003 after a recall of Governor [[Gray Davis]] and reelected in a landslide in 2006. However, Schwarzenegger's popularity, along with the Democratic assembly, fell because of the California budget crisis. State Attorney General and former Governor [[Jerry Brown]] won the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, former [[Ebay]] CEO [[Meg Whitman]] defeated State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.
[[San Francisco]] Mayor [[Gavin Newsom]] was seeking the Democratic nomination, however dropped out in October 2009 after lackluster poll numbers and meager fund-raising receipts. <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newsom-out31-2009oct31,0,7017003.story</ref> In the general election, Brown defeated Whitman by a 53%-42% margin.
*'''Connecticut'''
M. [[Jodi Rell]], despite being a Republican Governor from a blue state, was reelected with 63% of the vote in 2006 and had high approval ratings throughout her tenure as governor. However, she announced she would not run for another term. <ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29346.html</ref> Lieutenant Governor [[Michael Fedele]] announced his candidacy, but was defeated for the Republican nomination by former U.S. Ambassador Tom Foley. Democrats chose Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy over former U.S. Senate candidate [[Ned Lamont]]. After a recount, Malloy was confirmed to have won the governorship by a 50%-49% margin.
*'''Hawaii'''
*'''Florida'''
Republican turned Independent Governor [[Charlie Crist]] announced he would not seek a second term and instead run for the [[United States Senate]], resulting in an open race. State Attorney General [[Bill McCollum]] was heavily favored to win the Republican nomination, but was defeated by [[Rick Scott]], a millionaire health care executive and activist against federal health care legislation. Democrats nominated Chief Financial Officer [[Alex Sink]], who led Scott in most of the polls following the primary. Scott’s campaign emphasized conservative policies such as expanding school choice, abolishing the corporate income tax, and firing state employees. <ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2279447/slideshow/2279496/</ref> He won the general election by a narrow 49%-48% margin.
*'''Iowa'''
*'''Michigan'''
Democratic Governor [[Jennifer Granholm]] suffered in her job approval ratings as the Michigan economy, heavily dependent of the auto industry, continued to falter throughout the 2000’s2000s. She was legally barred from seeking a third-term under state law. The Republican nominee, former President and COO of Gateway, Inc. Rick Snyder, easily defeated Democrat Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero by a 58%-40% margin in the general election.
*'''New Mexico'''
Democratic Governor [[Bill Richardson]] was nominated by President Obama to serve as Secretary of Commerce, however was forced to resign after it was exposed that his administration had a "pay-to-play" deal with a defense contractor. Richardson denied any wrongdoing. Although he was popular for most of his tenure, and handedly reelected in 2006, his approval ratings fell to 28% as the economy declined. <ref>http://www.koat.com/news/22663973/detail.html</ref> As he was term-limited in 2010, Lieutenant Governor [[Diane Denish]] won the Democratic Party nomination. The Republican nomination went to District Attorney [[Susana Martinez]], and narrowly led in the polls throughout the campaign. She defeated Denish by a 54%-46% margin, becoming the first [[Hispanic]] woman elected governor in the United States.
*'''Ohio'''
Incumbent Democrat [[Ted Strickland]] faced sagging approval ratings and tough reelection prospects as Ohio lost jobs and population during his governorship. His Republican opponent, [[John Kasich]] – a former Congressman and Chairman of the House Budget Committee in the 1990’s 1990s – campaigned on phasing out the state income tax, leasing the state’s toll roads, cutting 15-20 percent of the state’s higher education funds, and relaxing sentences on nonviolent offenders to cut down prison costs. <ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2279447/slideshow/2279496/fs/0//entry/2279502/</ref> He defeated Strickland by a 49%-47% margin.
*'''Oklahoma'''
*'''Colorado'''
Despite Democratic success in [[Colorado]] during the 2006 and 2008 elections, incumbent Governor [[Bill Ritter]] announced his retirement after the prospects of a difficult reelection. His policies of higher taxes and unionization of state employees earned him criticism from the business community, and his approval ratings fell to 45%. <ref>http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/23/speakout-midway-in-first-term-ritter-struggles/</ref>. Former Congressman [[Scott McInnis]] was favored to win the Republican nomination, however fell in the polls after a controversy regarding plagiarizing an article, and was defeated by businessman and political newcomer Dan Maes, who also received criticism for misrepresenting his law enforcement background in the 1980’s1980s. Meanwhile, former Congressman [[Tom Tancredo]] entered the race in the American Constitution Party, and surged towards the end of the campaign. The turmoil made is easier for Denver Mayor [[John Hickenlooper]] to hold the Governors office for the Democrats, and was elected 50% of the vote, to Tancredo’s 37% and Maes 11%.
*'''Illinois'''
After Democratic Governor [[Eliot Spitzer]] resigned in disgrace when it was revealed that he was involved in a prostitution ring, Lieutenant Governor [[David Paterson]] took office. Governor Paterson's approval ratings plummeted to 21% <ref>http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/no-recovery-in-patersons-poll-numbers/?hp</ref> after his handling of the state budget crisis, his mismanagement of filling in the appointment of [[Hillary Clinton]]'s vacant Senate seat, and a proposed number of tax increases. Former New York City Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] declined to seek the governorship and endorsed former Congressman [[Rick Lazio]].
President [[Barack Obama]] in Sept. 2009 contacted Paterson, asking him not to seek reelection in 2010 in that he cannot recover from his dismal political standing. Democrats nominated a stronger candidate, State Attorney General [[Andrew Cuomo]]. Republicans nominated Tea Party favorite and real estate developer Carl Paladino. Polls originally showed a tightening race, however a series of missteps resulted in Cuomo being handedly elected with over 60-percent of the vote.
*'''Oregon'''
*'''Alaska'''
[[Sarah Palin]], one-term Governor and former Vice-Presidential nominee, resigned on July 3rd3, 2009 and Lieutenant Governor [[Sean Parnell]] inherited the governorship. Although Democrats nominated a formidable challenger, former State House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, Parnell was elected to a full term by a 59%-38% margin.
*'''Arizona'''
After Democratic Governor [[Janet Napolitano]] was nominated by President Obama to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security, Arizona Secretary of State [[Janice K. Brewer]], a Republican, succeeded her. She announced that she would seek a full term. <ref>http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/11/02/daily52.html</ref>In the beginning of 2010, Brewer was considered to be one of the most vulnerable Republican Governors up for reelection. However, her popularity rose after signing a controversial illegal immigration law, and was reelected against state Attorney General Terry Goddard by a 55%-42% margin.
*'''Georgia'''
==Further reading==
* Michael Barone, ''The Almanac of American Politics: 2010'' (2009) 1726pp; in-depth covereage of every seat in Congress.
== See also ==
*[[Liberals Who Refuse To Debate]]
*[[Jobsgate]]
[[categoryCategory:Politics]][[categoryCategory:Obama Presidency]][[categoryCategory:Republican Party]][[categoryCategory:Democratic Party]][[Category: 111th United States Congress]]
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
