U.S. News: Midterm Elections

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
2010 Year in Review

Major U.S. news stories, from health-care reform to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"


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Midterm Elections

Though many Democrats felt uneasy about their chances for retaining control of either house of Congress, the Democratic Party preserved its majority in the Senate. Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada was re-elected, and his fellow Democrats won enough key Senate races across the country to allow Reid to maintain his leadership position.

The Republican Party gained control of the House of Representatives, with several seats won by members of the Tea Party. Representative John Boehner of Ohio was poised to become the new Speaker of the House, replacing Democratic representative and current Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. After the national elections, Pelosi was re-elected by fellow Democrats to lead the party in the next Congress, although in a diminished role as minority leader.

For more information on the U.S. Government:

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