U.S. Senate election, 1994

The U.S. Senate election, 1994 was an election in which the Republican Party was able to take control of the Senate from the Democrats by mobilizing voters discontented with congressional incumbents and the early presidency of Bill Clinton.

Related Topics:
Republican Party - Senate - Democrats - Bill Clinton

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The Republicans captured eight seats from the Democrats, including the seats of sitting Sens. Harris Wofford (D-Pa.) and James R. Sasser (D-Tenn.), as well as six open seats in Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Notably, since Sasser's defeat coincided with the special election to replace Albert A. Gore Jr. (who had left the Senate to become vice president), the delegation of Tennessee changed from two Democrats to two Republicans in one election.

Related Topics:
Harris Wofford - James R. Sasser - Arizona - Maine - Michigan - Ohio - Oklahoma - Tennessee - Albert A. Gore Jr. - Vice president

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This defeat changed control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans for the first time since 1986. In combination with the first change of control in the United States House of Representatives since 1954, this is sometimes called the Republican revolution. Minority leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.) became majority leader, while on the Democratic side, the new minority leader was Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), previous majority leader George J. Mitchell (D-Maine) having left the Senate.

Related Topics:
1986 - United States House of Representatives - 1954 - Republican revolution - Robert J. Dole - Thomas A. Daschle - George J. Mitchell

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Initially, the balance was 52-48 in favor of Republicans, but after the power change, Democrats Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado switched parties, bringing the balance to 54-46 before the resignation of Robert W. Packwood and his replacement by a Democrat returned the balance to 53-47.

Related Topics:
Richard C. Shelby - Alabama - Ben Nighthorse Campbell - Colorado - Robert W. Packwood

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