Midterm Elections

2014 MIDTERM ELECTION

Republican Sweep Takes Senate, Expands Majority in the House
GOP swept through the heartland in the November 4, 2014, midterm polls, taking the control over US Senate for the first time since 2006, expanded already a solid majority in the House of Representatives, won governorships in Democratic-leaning states such Illinois. The voter turnout during midterm polls was low, and White voters en masse flocked to the GOP. On November 5, 2014, the composition of 114th Congress became clearer with the

* Senate (100): 43 Democrats; 2 Independents (usually caucus with Democrats); 52 Republicans; 3 (Yet undecided)

* House of Representatives (435): 179 Democrats; 244 Republicans; 12 (Yet undecided)

GOP is within striking distance of their House record of 246 seats set in 1946, when Harry Truman was in the White House.

Landrieu Loses Runoff; GOP Consolidates Control over Congress
Mary Landrieu running for her fourth term was defeated in December 6, 2014, runoff by Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. With Senator Mary Landrieu's defeat, Democrats were purged from the states in Deep South to represent in the US Senate. The 114th Congress will be solidly controlled by the GOP, with
* Senate: GOP-54; Democrats-46
* House: GOP-246; Democrats-188; Undecided-1 (Arizona)

Minimum Wage Vote
Voters in four states passed referendums to increase the minimum wage

* Arkansas: $8.50 in 2017 from the current wage of $6.25 an hour
* Nebraska: $9.00 from $7.25
* South Dakota: $8.50 from $7.25
* Alaska: $9.75 in 2016 from $7.75

TEXAS

Texas Remains Firmly Red State
GOP swept all state level offices on November 4, 2014, with

* Greg Abbott defeating Wendy Davis to succeed Rick Perry as Governor of Texas
Voter turnout was a meager 33%, dealing a setback to Battleground Texas and other Democratic-leaning groups which had worked hard on their overreach to minorities and urban voters for higher turnout. However, Abbott received 44% of Hispanic vote, a high percentage for the candidate of a party that often struggle with connecting to minorities.
* Dan Patrick defeating Leticia Van de Putt to succeed David Dewhurst as Lieutenant Governor of Texas
* Texas Senate: 20 Republicans (from the current strength of 19); 11 Democrats (from 12)
* Texas House: 98 Republicans (from 95); 52 Democrats (from 55)

2018 MIDTERM ELECTION
Democrats Win back House, Republicans Poised to Increase Majority in Senate
November 6, 2018, midterm elections yielded a split Congress where Democrats swept back to power in the House of Representatives after a hiatus of eight years while the GOP was all set to expand their majority. Nancy Pelosi is all but sure to return as the Speaker of the House.

2022 MIDTERM ELECTION

********************************** TEXAS ****************************************

Beto Jumps into Gubernatorial Race to Challenge Abbott

Beto O'Rourke on November 15, 2021 announced his much anticipated run to oust Governor Gregg Abbott. In a video message, making his announcement, Beto decried the divisive rule of Governor Abbott and condemned his support to ban abortion at the sixth week, allow permitless-carry despite "begging" from the law enforcement personnel and the governor's handling of the grid failure in mid-February 2021. In a twit message, Governor Gregg Abbott accepted the challenge and wasted no time to define Beto as an out-of-touch liberal who wanted to grab Texans' guns. Governor Abbott, who is facing primary challenge from Former Texas Senator Don Huffines, Former Florida Rep. Allen West, a former state party chairman, and entertainer Chad Prather, has accumulated a formidable war chest of $55.1 million in campaign fund as of June 30, 2021. 

Abbott Wins Third Time, All Statewide Offices Won by Republicans

Governor Gregg Abbott won the third four-year term on November 8, 2022, defeating Democrat Beto O'Rourke, according to the several media reports. The gubernatorial race was expensive: $202.5 million since July 1, 2021, with 65% spent by Gov. Abbott. Both candidates proved out to be prolific fundraisers. Abbott raised about $83.6 million and his Democratic opponent raised $77.3 million in these 16 months. All other statewide offices were also won by Republicans, leading the dry spell for Democrats that had begun in 1994 to continue for at least another four years. 

* Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick defeated Mike Collier 

* Attorney-General Ken Paxton won the race for the state's top law enforcement office against former ACLU attorney Rochelle Garza

Democrat Wins a Collin County Seat to State House for the First Time in Three Decades

Mihaela Plesa won the state House District 70, becoming the first Democrat to win in Collin County in almost 30 years. Going to the November 8, 2022, midterm election, Republicans had 83-65 majority. That will change in January 2023 in the next legislative session with 86 Republican lawmakers and 64 Democratic lawmakers. 

********************************** TEXAS ****************************************

McCarthy Unveils "Commitment to America" Agenda

Mimicking Newt Gingrich's 1994 model of "Contract with America", Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on September 23, 2022 unveiled "Commitment to America". 

All eyes are now set on Midterm polls on November 8, 2022.

No Red Wave in Midterm; Arkansas, Massachusetts Elect First Female Governors

As the election is drawn to a close and votes counted, it has become clear that it's anything but a RED WAVE. Democrats have put up a spirited fight, and at the end, it may be a Republican-led House, but by a slender-thin majority.

In the historical first, Arkansas voters elected Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the conservative state's first female governor. In Massachusetts, Maura Healy will become the state's first woman and first openly Lesbian governor. 

Democrats Make Gains in Governor Races

Going into November 8, 2022, midterm election, Republicans led Democrats 28-22 as far as state executive mansions were concerned. Democrats took Massachusetts and Maryland as Maura Healy and Wes Moore won those races, respectively. Wes Moore became the first Black to hold the office of Maryland's governor. 

Abortion-related Measures Give Pro-Choice Groups Big Victory 

Quite a few states had abortion-related measures on the ballot on the election day. All of them were approved or rejected in favor of the pro-choice groups. The most consequential was the one in Kentucky where a measure meant to explicitly write banning abortion in state constitution was defeated. If the measure were passed, the anti-abortion laws could not be challenged in court. At present, almost all abortions are banned in Kentucky and a case filed against the ban will be heard in the state Supreme Court next week. 

In Michigan, a measure to allow abortion right to be enshrined in the state constitution was passed, thus preventing a 1931 abortion ban from taking effect. 

In California and Vermont, amendments were approved to ensure the right to abortion to become an integral part of the state constitution. 

Recreation Marijuana Measure Passed in Missouri, Maryland

Increasing the pressure on federal lawmakers, there are now 21 states with laws that allow the use of  recreational marijuana, the latest additions are Maryland and conservative Missouri as voters in these two states have approved legalization measures on November 8, 2022. Three other states voted against making recreational marijuana legal. They are North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas. 

Democrats Win Senate

As Republicans are inching toward the majority mark of 218 seats in the House, with Nevada's projected victory, Democrats on November 12, 2022 were poised to win 50 seats and thus the majority in Senate. The Georgia Senate seat will go to December 6, 2022, runoff where Sen. Rafael Warnok and Herschel Walker are vying.  

Arizona: Another State Mansion Win for Democrats

Adding to the roster of the state executive offices on the top of Maryland and Massachusetts is Arizona. On November 14, 2022, news channels called the race in favor of Secretary of State Katie Hobbs against conspiracy theorist and Trump backer Kari Lake. 

Pelosi Announces Stepping down from Leadership Post

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on November 17, 2022 announced that she would step down from the House Democratic caucus leadership position nearly after 20 years. The announcement in a floor speech came after Republicans attained the House majority, though by a razor-thin margin. Democratic members crowded the chamber, and clapped during her speech and applauded her leadership. Many took photos with her after her speech. Nancy Pelosi will serve as the member of the House as the representative from her San Francisco district that she has represented since 1987. In 2007, She became the first woman speaker of the House, and led the House till 2011. In her second stint as the speaker, Pelosi has been holding the gavel since 2019. Pelosi has overseen many landmark events in the country's history: passing ACA, two impeachments against Trump, conducting House business during the uncertain time of a pandemic, spearheading COVID aid packages and infrastructure bill. Nancy Pelosi ran the House with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn as a triumvirate. Now, with Pelosi gone, both Reps. Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn have announced to clear the way for the next generation to ascend the hierarchy of the Democratic caucus. 

New Generation of Democratic Party Leaders Step in 

After two decades of leading House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has handed over the baton to a younger generation. Two other octogenarian leaders in the Democratic caucus have also cleared the way for the younger leaders to shoo in. The transition process can't be any smoother. On November 30, 2022, Hakeem Jeffries became the minority leader without any opposition. Jeffries is the first African American to hold the top leadership post of any party in the Congress. Another history was made on November 30, 2022 as Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, 59, became the first woman to be any major party's whip in Congress. Clark takes the leadership position held so far by Rep. James Clyburn, 82. Rep. Pete Aguilar becomes the caucus chairman, replacing Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83. In a fete of honor, Nancy Pelosi was accorded the "Speaker Emerita" honor by the House Democrats. 

*************************** ARIZONA GUBERNATORIAL POLL *************

Arizona Gubernatorial Victory by Democrat Likely to be Challenged by Republican Challenger

Arizona officials on December 5, 2022 certified the victory of Secretary of State Katie Hobbs as the state's new governor. The official certification process was done by Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, Secretary of State Hobbs, a Democrat, Attorney-General Mark Brnovich, a GOP stalwart, and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, a Ducey appointee. Several Republican counties held up the certification process, and officials in the state's southeastern Cochise County was the last county to certify the victory of Katie Hobbs on December 2, 2022 under a court order. GOP challenger Kari Lake, a Trump supporter and an election-denier, is most likely to bring a lawsuit against Katie Hobbs' victory on the ground that she had posed a conflict of interest by certifying her own victory. 

Katie Hobbs Sworn in as Arizona Governor on January 2, 2023.

*************************** ARIZONA GUBERNATORIAL POLL *************

Sinema Leaves Democratic Party

Sen. Krysten Sinema on December 9, 2022 announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent, three days after Sen. Rafael Warnock had won the Georgia runoff against Republican Herschel Walker and gave Senate Democrats a strong 51-49 majority. Sen. Sinema will keep all her committee assignments, implying Democrats' control of Senate is not at stake. 

118th Congress Will Have Historic Hispanic Representation of New Members

When 118th Congress opens on January 3, 2022, the freshman class will have highest number of Hispanic members ever, but they will also represent very diverse groups of Hispanic community. There will be five Republican and nine Democratic members in the incoming Hispanic class. There will be the first Generation Z member: Rep.-elect Maxwell Frost, D-FL. There will be the first openly gay Republican member of the House: Rep.-elect George Santos of New York. The 118th Congress will have 222 Republicans and 213 Democrats. 

On January 3, 2022, the speaker of the House will be elected first, and following that, members of the House will be sworn in. 

************************** SPEAKER ELECTION DRAMA ***************************

McCarthy Fails to Get Majority in Three Tries

Republican speaker hopeful Rep. Kevin McCarthy on January 3, 2023 failed to get 218 votes needed to become the speaker of the House. The 118th Congress opened on January 3, 2023 on a high-decibel atmosphere of kabuki theater with Republicans wrangling with each other over electing the speaker of the House. A minority of 20 conservatives, most of them are the members of the House Freedom Caucus, have thrown the cold water on the hope of Rep. McCarthy to win the job that he has prepared himself for his entire life. Three Texas Republicans--Rep. Chip Roy, Rep. Keith Self and Rep. Michael Cloud--voted with 16 other dissenters in the first round in favor of other candidates such as Jim Jordan of Ohio or other political figures. This is the first time in almost 100 years of Congressional history that the House is not able to elect a speaker on the first count. The House was adjourned for the day after three rounds.

In 1923, it took nine votes for the then-Speaker Frederick Gillett, a Massachusetts Republican, to win  the third term as speaker. Rep. Henry Cooper, a progressive Republican from Wisconsin, received 17 votes in each of the first eight votes. Cooper later dropped out and progressives threw their hats in the ring for Gillett, but not before forcing to change the House rules, including curbing the powers of speaker. 

Before 1923, there were 13 other instances of multiple votes to elect a speaker since 1789. The maximum number of votes ever needed to elect a speaker was in 1855 for the 34th Congress when it took 133 rounds of voting for Rep. Nathaniel Banks to secure the job of the speaker. According to the Office of the House Historian, party division before the Civil War has been nebulous. 

After Two Days of Voting in Speaker Election, McCarthy 0-6

20 stubborn lawmakers continued to hold their ground on January 4, 2023 and deprived Rep. Kevin McCarthy the gavel of the House in three additional rounds of the voting. The House adjourned later for the day. Democrats remained united and voted unanimously for Rep. Hakeem Jefferies in all six rounds. 

Speaker Stalemate Continues for the Third Day

Republicans failed to elect a speaker on January 5, 2023 after 11 rounds of votes over the past three days. Kevin McCarthy failed short of winning majority of votes from the House as 20 rebels from his caucus continued voting for other members as speaker. Rep. Chip Roy named Byron Donald, R-FL, and Matt Gaetz named Donald Trump as the speaker, most likely the first time in House history a non-member was named to speakership. After 0-11 failure, Kevin McCarthy put himself in the history book as one had to go to 1859 when the speaker was elected after 44 rounds of balloting. 

McCarthy Elected Speaker 

After failing to get majority in 14 rounds, Kevin McCarthy won the speaker's job in the early hours of January 7, 2023 in the 15th round, marking the speaker election the longest since 1855. Many of the Conservative holdouts began switching their votes as the night progressed on January 6, 2023, with McCarthy having committed significant concessions to the demands of Conservative holdouts. As part of concessions, no-confidence motion against the speaker can be initiated even with a single lawmaker. Also, Conservatives will receive larger share of seats in the powerful Rules Committee that sets the ground rules on how the legislations will move and what bills to be pushed. Many Conservatives are adamant to restoring the so called "motion to vacate the chair" that empowers every member of the House with legislative leverage to push for a motion to fire the speaker, 

************************** SPEAKER ELECTION DRAMA ***************************