U.S. House election, 1994

The U.S. House election, 1994 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1994 which occurred in the middle of President Bill Clinton's first term. As a result of a 54-seat swing in membership from Democrats to Republicans, the Republican Party gained a majority of seats in the House for the first time since 1954.

Related Topics:
United States House of Representatives - 1994 - President - Bill Clinton - Republican Party - 1954

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The Democratic Party had run the House for forty years and had been plagued by a series of scandals. The Republican Party, united behind Newt Gingrich's Contract with America, which promised floor votes on various popular and institutional reforms, was able to capitalize on the perception that the House leadership was corrupt, as well as the dissatisfaction of conservative voters with President Clinton's actions (including a failed health care bill).

Related Topics:
Democratic Party - Republican Party - Newt Gingrich - Contract with America

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In an historic election, Democrat and House Speaker Tom Foley (D-Washington) was defeated for re-election in his district, becoming the first Speaker of the House to fail to win re-election since the era of the American Civil War. Minority whip Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia), re-elected in the Republican landslide, became Speaker (previous Minority Leader Robert H. Michel having retired). Former Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri) became minority leader. The new Republican leadership in the House and Senate would fulfill its promises in the Contract with America, bringing a dozen major legislative proposals to a vote in their first 100 days, and would prove to be a major counterweight to President Clinton's legislative agenda.

Related Topics:
House Speaker - Tom Foley - D - Washington - American Civil War - Minority whip - Newt Gingrich - R - Georgia - Minority Leader - Robert H. Michel - Majority Leader - Dick Gephardt - Missouri - Senate

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Other major upsets included the defeat of powerful long-serving Representatives such as Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (D-Illinois) and Judiciary Chairman Jack Brooks (D-Texas). In all, 34 incumbents (all Democrats) were defeated, though several of them (like David Price of North Carolina, Ted Strickland of Ohio, and Jay Inslee of Washington) regained seats in later elections.

Related Topics:
Dan Rostenkowski - Illinois - Jack Brooks - Texas

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