The Republican gains usher in era of divided government for the US; President Obama will have to deal with a more conservative Congress, which will include members of the anti-establishment tea party movement.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSUS midterm election results map 311(photo credit: Realclearpolitics.com)WASHINGTON — Republicans rode a wave of voter discontent and conservative outrage to capture a House of Representatives majority from President Barack Obama's Democrats on Tuesday, rolling up historic gains and ending the Democrats' reign after just four years.
The Republican victory eclipsed their 54-seat pickup when they retook the House in 1994 for the first time in 40 years and the 56-seat Republican gain in 1946. Democrats had captured only 2 Republican seats.
RELATED:Jewish candidates secure major wins in House, SenateUS voters flock to polls as Democratic control uncertainEditorial: Obama’s opportunity The Republican party — energized by the ultraconservative tea party movement and voter disillusionment with Obama, incumbents and high unemployment — captured 58 seats by early Wednesday from Democrats, easily exceeding the 40 needed to gain a majority.Republicans piled up their biggest House gains since they added 80 seats in 1938, during the Depression. A Republican takeover of the House will create a divided government, complicating Obama's agenda and possibly leading to attempts to repeal his sweeping health care reform legislation. Republicans have said they want to cut $100 billion in spending in a year and roll back Obama's overhauls of health care and financial regulations.Democrats had controlled the House by a 255-178 margin, with two vacancies. All 435 seats were contested.The election was a remarkable turnabout from 2008, when Obama's victory helped propel Democrats to big gains in their House majority, following the 2006 wave that swept them to power there.Democrats will lose the House after only four years, the shortest a party has held the lower chamber since Republicans kept it for just two years from 1953-1955.The House has the power to raise revenue through taxes and control spending, to impeach officials and to elect the president in case of a deadlock. It can also hold hearings and investigations — a cudgel that could be used to stymie the Obama administration.Republican Leader John Boehner was in line to claim the leadership position known as speaker and become second in line for the presidency after the vice president.House results as of Wednesday morningObama called Boehner to say he looked forward to working with him and the Republicans "to find common ground, move the country forward and get things done for the American people," the White House said.Boehner told the president he wanted to collaborate on voters' top priorities, creating jobs and cutting spending. "That's what they expect," the 10-term Republican said.House Democrats defended their legislative record and campaign strategy and said they would try to compromise with the Republicans."The outcome of the election does not diminish the work we have done for the American people," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to wield the speaker's gavel. "We must all strive to find common ground to support the middle class, create jobs, reduce the deficit and move our nation forward."
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