Historic
Presidential Election | Obama Assembles a Centrist Administration | Financial Crisis Hits Hard Democrats
Gain Seats in Congress Though overshadowed by the presidential
election, the 2008 congressional races featured several
headline-making scandals and upsets. The results of the competitions
in the Senate and House of Representatives followed the trend set in
2006; Democrats picked up a total of 19 additional seats in the House
and seven in the Senate, allowing the party to hold on to their
majority in both houses of Congress. Post-election, the number
of Senate Democrats reached 56 (with Minnesota still undecided as of
Dec. 15), and with two Independents caucusing for the Democrats, their
majority totals 58. This number falls short of the filibuster-safe 60
they had hoped for, but certainly creates a safe cushion of
majority. Scandals in Senate Races The election cycle
was rife with scandal. Incumbent Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, a
Republican, made news in October when he was found guilty of felony
charges: making false statements in regard to unreported gifts.
Refusing to resign, he continued on in the race for reelection, but
narrowly lost to Democrat Mark Begich. North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth
Dole, a Republican, also made headlines in an "October surprise." She
released a television attack ad accusing her opponent, Democrat Kay
Hagan, of taking money from an atheist organization and implying that
Hagan might herself be an atheist. The ad was widely criticized and
contributed to Hagan's wide margin of victory. Months before the
election, Dole was leading in the polls and considered a shoo-in.
Obama's Senate Seat Up for Sale On December 9, the U.S.
Attorney General's Office revealed that Chicago governor Rod
Blagojevich, responsible for naming the replacement for the Senate
seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, had plotted to sell the
position to the highest bidder. He was arrested and charged with
conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of
bribery. Recounts were another theme of the congressional
contests. The Georgia race between incumbent Sen. Republican Saxby
Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin was surprisingly underwhelming.
Because neither candidate attained the required 50% of the votes, a
recount election was held on December 3. Chambliss won the second
round handily. In Minnesota, the slim margin of victory for incumbent
Republican Norm Coleman—competing against Democrat Al Franken—required a recount. Disqualified absentee ballots and missing votes
slowed the process. Results are still pending. For more
information about the congressional races:
|
Atlas
Encyclopedia
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Day in History
