Democrats hold onto Senate majority; GOP keeps control of House
CBS News
Updated 11:30 a.m. ET
Despite hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of spending in races across the country, the political composition of Congress will look much the same next year as it does now, with Democrats potentially adding to their slim majority in the Senate and Republicans retaining power in the House of Representatives.
A year ago, Republicans were reasonably hopeful of picking up the necessary four seats to flip control in the Senate: Democrats were defending 23 seats this cycle, including six open spots, while the GOP had to defend only 10. But in the final days of the campaign season, amid a handful of unforced errors by Republican candidates, that goal became look increasingly out of reach.
In Missouri, where incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill had been thought one of the most vulnerable members up for re-election, Republican candidate Todd Akin saw his prospects of victory plummet after suggesting that pregnancies do not result from what he described, controversially, as "legitimate" rapes. Last night, McCaskill trounced him by 16 percent.
Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, a Tea Party-backed Republican who defeated longtime moderate Republican Senator Richard Lugar in the primary, suffered an upset loss to Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly after his own controversial comments about abortion and rape: After suggesting that pregnancies resulting from rape are "something that God intended to happen," the already-close race tilted in Donnelly's favor. Last night, the Democrat beat Mourdock by 6 percent in a solidly red state.
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Meanwhile, a number of Democratic Senate candidates seemed to benefit from the president's win at the top of the ticket: In Massachusetts, consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren bested incumbent Republican Scott Brown by a decisive 8 percent; in Virginia, former Democratic governor Tim Kaine topped former Republican governor and senator George Allen by 4 percent; Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown beat Republican Josh Mandel in Ohio by 5 percent, and in Wisconsin, Democratic candidate Tammy Baldwin defeated former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson by 5 percent to become the first openly gay woman ever to be elected to the United States Senate. The race was closer in Montana, but CBS News projected a win for Democratic incumbent Jon Tester Wednesday morning.
Elizabeth Warren thanks supporters in victory speech
Republicans eked out a few victories in the Senate as well: Republican Deb Fischer emerged 16 points ahead of Democrat Bob Kerrey in Nebraska, and Arizona Republican Jeff Flake bested Democrat Richard Carmona by 5 percent.
In the House, Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who is an Iraq war veteran and double amputee, defeated Republican Rep. Joe Walsh by 10 points in the contest for Illinois' 8th congressional district, and Democratic incumbent Rep. John Tierney, of Massachusetts' 6th District, narrowly fended off a challenge from Republican Richard Tisei. Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, meanwhile, skated to re-election in Wisconsin's 1st district -- beating his opponent 55 to 43 percent -- despite his loss on the presidential ticket.
In other notable races, Republican congressional hopeful Mia Love failed to unseat long-time Democrat Jim Matheson in Utah's 4th district. And a bitterly fought race between two Democratic incumbents in a newly remapped 30th district in California was finally called early Wednesday for Brad Sherman over fellow Democrat Howard Berman. Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann, the former presidential candidate and Minnesota incumbent, narrowly won re-election in Minnesota' 6th, but fellow Tea Party member Allen West's race in Florida's 18th district is still too close to call.
The chamber will welcome a record number of Latino Representatives next year: As of Wednesday morning, at least 29 Hispanics will be inaugurated into the House next year, up from the 27 currently serving.
Facing a similar post-election partisan breakdown and a number of unresolved congressional matters, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urged unity and cooperation among members in the coming months.
"Now that the election is over, it's time to put politics aside, and work together to find solutions. The strategy of obstruction, gridlock and delay was soundly rejected by the American people. Now, they are looking to us for solutions," he said in a statement. "We have big challenges facing us in the months ahead. Democrats and Republicans must come together, and show that we are up to the challenge."
Indeed, when Congress reconvenes next week, members will face the task of dealing with an impending "fiscal cliff": The Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year and, barring congressional action, $1.2 trillion worth of automatic cuts to defense and non-defense programs will go into effect in January. Economists say the sudden jolt in fiscal spending and taxes will have a devastating impact on the economy.
The extent to which Congress will tackle these issues immediately, however, is unclear. Earlier this week, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, predicted a short-term fix for the unresolved budget and tax issues.
Also unknown is whether Democrat Nancy Pelosi will remain at her post as House Minority Leader in the coming Congress.
Nevertheless, by the end of Tuesday night, Democrats were relishing their victories. In her Massachusetts victory speech, Warren thanked an exuberant crowd for delivering her win.
"This victory belongs to you. You did this," she said. "For every family that has been chipped at, squeezed and hammered, we're gonna fight for a level playing field and we're going to put people back to work... I love you."
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In fact, in the eyes of the corporate world, the very last thing you want is freedom and democracy. I hope the American Sheeple finally start to understand the truth.
Only when we finally throw off the yoke of Wall Street corruption can we get a decent House of Reps that is not bought and paid for.
The republican party made a disgraceful attempt at voter suppression by passing the voter ID law, only to see it backfire. Black preachers, who witnessed their slow and painful climb to justice, were not willing to see their people take such a hit, so mobilized voters to get to the polls. Hispanics, even those with broken English, understand who will not represent their interests. Republican elected officials only represent those who give them money.
No doubt the 1% votes, but have had unequaled, tremendous influence over the republicans in office. How? Republicans are easily bought; more accurately, the elected hunt down lobbyist who can fork over cash for political influence. This is the most base corruption of democracy. Our forefathers had the wisdom to state in the Constitution three grounds for impeachment, "accepting bribery, treason, and other high crimes against the state." Our elected not only accept bribes, but chase lobbyist to hunt down deals. Previous laws to prevent bribes, like when "donations" were capped have been circumvented through Super Pacs and ALEC.
Another thing that hurt republicans is their determination to repeal ObamaCare. Truth is for over 50 years Congress has been working on health care. However, in retrospect, their efforts to find a reasonable health care package, legislators found instead that they could use the threat of a national health care package as extortion of the medical field to the tune of millions in "donation" every year to NOT pass health care. ObamaCare killed one fat Golden Goose.
Romney talked about the 47% who seek "entitlements". What he fails to understand is that he is a taker of the largest of the entitlements. It was long established that those who make more money, should pay a larger percent of their income in taxes. Instead, Romney pays a lower percent than the average working man or woman. His income is from investments which just happens to be the only tax that Romney specifically stated that he wants to lower! Like an income of 20 million dollars a year is not enough!
In truth, this election has been a needed wake up call to republicans. John Boehner stated four years ago that his soul mission was to bring down Obama and repeal health care. He was not elected to be a legislative obstructionist, but to do a job. This year's defeat may be the wake up call that republicans have long needed. Their fanaticism has been so far out of control that they have nearly destroyed their own party. Republican Senator Olympia Snow gave up her seat from Maine because her own party made it impossible to accomplish anything in Congress. Now with the loss of public support, republicans need to rethink their priorities or see their numbers in Congress decrease. Lower numbers in Congress would mean that they would no longer be effective in bringing in legislation that large corporations expect, so in turn would decrease their take of illegal bribes.
So in effect this was a win for Republicans. They can put aside their craziness and get to work. This may effect a change that will save their party and keep their illegal contributions coming.
Every public officeholder swears an oath of office. ?Ask yourself, 'What's the point of ANY additional pledge?' ?Follow the money.
Any officeholder who genuinely believes in representative government should have already publicly denounced the Teaparty/Taliban's efforts to disenfranchise Americans.
If you stood in line to vote, write your STATE legislators an invitation to the 21st century. ?Washington state voters had their ballots weeks before election day.
The Teaparty/Taliban are still afraid of women making decisions. (John 8:3-11)
Trickle down not only doesn't spur economic growth, it stifles it. It's what led to the American and French revolutions.
"Corporations are people" = "He with the most gold rules"
OK. I'm confused. Does accepting overseas contributions fall under "bribery" ? Or just "high crimes" Is gun-running in Libya and Syria "treason" or just high crimes? Ditto letting 4 Americans in Libya die and telling US forces nearby to "stand down." Is lying to the American people treason, high crimes, or none of the above?
This election has been a wake up call, alright -- to get tougher. Benghazi leaves too many questions. I'm sure House Republicans will ask questins that CBS and the rest have been too afraid and too blinded by adulation of Obama to dare ask before the election.
By the way, all of you progressive thrilled wih the outcome of the election will finally get a chance to see the fiscal consequences of 50 years of your ever-growing social program deficit spending. Say hi to Greece for me, will you?
Support only the 1%, even if they do vote. Support Wall Street and not those put on the street and the numbers simply will not add up.
1. Hike the Rich Tax to Clinton levels. Raise $300-Bill.
2. Drop Defense budget by $250-Bill.
3. Trade: Get more buyers for US products. Income $200-Bill.
4. Stimulate economy with 1-3 above. Tax income up: $290-Bill.
5. $1-Trill Deficit down to ZERO by 2014.
If the Republicans continue to dig in their heels for the wealthy they will lose the House in two years. If the Democratics can't find cuts in entitlements as well as defense they will lose the Senate.
Get off your high horses guys! Make it happen.
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we spend more on the defense budget annually than nearly all other countries in the world ... combined!
let's spend more ... just so we can 'lead' in something.
It is a known that Obama won 60% the votes of members of households who earned less than $50K a year.
It is a known that Obama won 60% the votes of members of households who earned less than $50K a year.
www.globalbabbler.com
The message set to both the House Republicans and McConnell is... You went to extreme, even for us. We're giving you a tenuous second chance because we prefer to see a balance of power. But, don't abuse it again.
A party, any party, should be a collection of degrees. This entire RINO label attached to any Republican not charging to the furthest fringes of absolute extremes and staunchly aligning themselves with the most uncooperative fragment of the Republican party, this Tea Party, I've ever witnessed in 50 years as a voter was insulting and immoral.
Like many others my long time grand old party pushed me out because while every bit a conservative even I wasn't extreme enough. Which resulted in my switching to being an Independent. I used my votes to send a message I would hope you hear, Mr. McConnell. You've played party politics long enough. Cooperation doesn't mean everyone else has to encourage cooperation with you.. it means you need to encourage cooperation also. It's your job to do so.. now do it.
His nostalgia of returning to "the good old days" might sound great in a stump speech, but it doesn't mean anything to women, people of colour, and people with disabilities.
Women were probably wondering, "what good old days? You mean when men controlled when and when I could not start my own family? When my economic mobility was determined by the person I married?" Many Catholic women in their 70s were turned off by it. For them it is a painful reminder of the trust they put into a leadership that did not protect their children against pedophiles.
People of color were wondering, "what good old days?" When whites were singing "Oh Susanna" and making fun of people who look like me? People with disabilities were wondering, "what good old days? When my only option was to be institutionalized?"
The entire Republican Party is so blinded by the realities we face. That's why they lost.