2008 Woodie Awards
GOP Holds Congress
Republicans retain Senate and make gains in House of Representatives.
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: Decision 2004
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Republicans retained control of the Senate Tuesday, capturing a handful of Southern Democratic seats and putting Democratic leader Tom Daschle a hair away from becoming the first party leader to lose his Senate seat in 52 years.
The GOP also expanded its hold in the House of Representatives by at least five seats, winning redrawn districts in Texas.
In the Senate, Republicans won formerly Democratic seats in North and South Carolina and Georgia. Democrats were also trying to fend off Republican Senate victories in Florida and Louisiana opened by retiring Democrats. If Republicans sweep all five - a distinct possibility - that would further solidify a political realignment across the South that began when Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1965.
The Republican victories would give the Senate a more conservative cast, making it less of a check on the more ideological, Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Democrats had a chance to offset some of the Republican gains. They won formerly Republican seats in Illinois and Colorado, and Republican Lisa Murkowski was in a pitched battle to retain her seat from Alaska.
Southern states promoted three Republican members of the House of Representatives to the Senate. They were U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint in South Carolina, U.S. Rep. Richard Burr in North Carolina and U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson in Georgia.
In Kentucky, Republican Sen. Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher whose unpredictable behavior gave Democrats hope for an upset, escaped a scare and pulled out a narrow win. Former U.S. Rep. Tom Coburn kept Oklahoma, another potential toss-up, in Republican hands.
Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate, 51-48, with one independent who tends to vote with Democrats.
From the outset, the political landscape this election year favored Republicans. Of 34 Senate seats up for election, Republicans had to defend 15 this year, and Democrats 19. More Democrats also faced tough races, and only nine Senate seats in all were truly in play. With control of the Senate at stake, these races broke fund-raising records and made this election the most expensive in history.
The South offered Republicans their best hope for gains. Senate retirements by Democrats Ernest Hollings from South Carolina, Zell Miller in Georgia and John Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, gave Republicans their best shots.
Florida and Louisiana are more difficult Southern challenges for Republicans, but retirements there by incumbent Democratic Sens. Bob Graham of Florida and John Breaux of Louisiana gave the GOP openings for pickups as well.
But Republican retirements in Illinois and Colorado gave Democrats an outside chance to regain control of the Senate.
Republicans currently hold a 227-205 majority with one independent who votes Democratic and two vacancies.
In winning House seats in Texas, Republicans defeated such Democratic stalwarts as Martin Frost and Charles Stenholm. The only significant loss for House Republicans was the defeat of Rep. Phil Crane of Illinois.
The GOP also expanded its hold in the House of Representatives by at least five seats, winning redrawn districts in Texas.
In the Senate, Republicans won formerly Democratic seats in North and South Carolina and Georgia. Democrats were also trying to fend off Republican Senate victories in Florida and Louisiana opened by retiring Democrats. If Republicans sweep all five - a distinct possibility - that would further solidify a political realignment across the South that began when Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1965.
The Republican victories would give the Senate a more conservative cast, making it less of a check on the more ideological, Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Democrats had a chance to offset some of the Republican gains. They won formerly Republican seats in Illinois and Colorado, and Republican Lisa Murkowski was in a pitched battle to retain her seat from Alaska.
Southern states promoted three Republican members of the House of Representatives to the Senate. They were U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint in South Carolina, U.S. Rep. Richard Burr in North Carolina and U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson in Georgia.
In Kentucky, Republican Sen. Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher whose unpredictable behavior gave Democrats hope for an upset, escaped a scare and pulled out a narrow win. Former U.S. Rep. Tom Coburn kept Oklahoma, another potential toss-up, in Republican hands.
Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate, 51-48, with one independent who tends to vote with Democrats.
From the outset, the political landscape this election year favored Republicans. Of 34 Senate seats up for election, Republicans had to defend 15 this year, and Democrats 19. More Democrats also faced tough races, and only nine Senate seats in all were truly in play. With control of the Senate at stake, these races broke fund-raising records and made this election the most expensive in history.
The South offered Republicans their best hope for gains. Senate retirements by Democrats Ernest Hollings from South Carolina, Zell Miller in Georgia and John Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, gave Republicans their best shots.
Florida and Louisiana are more difficult Southern challenges for Republicans, but retirements there by incumbent Democratic Sens. Bob Graham of Florida and John Breaux of Louisiana gave the GOP openings for pickups as well.
But Republican retirements in Illinois and Colorado gave Democrats an outside chance to regain control of the Senate.
Republicans currently hold a 227-205 majority with one independent who votes Democratic and two vacancies.
In winning House seats in Texas, Republicans defeated such Democratic stalwarts as Martin Frost and Charles Stenholm. The only significant loss for House Republicans was the defeat of Rep. Phil Crane of Illinois.