Virtually all sitting representatives in the
435-member House won re-election, leaving Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority
Leader Tom DeLay and their GOP majority firmly in charge.
Republicans were poised to add a few seats as they embark on another term of
House control — the first time the party has achieved 12 consecutive years in
power in the chamber since the dozen years that ended in January 1933.
"The American people have spoken tonight, and all indications are that they
have hired a Republican House of Representatives for the sixth straight
election," said DeLay, whose push for redistricting in Texas helped the GOP
knock off four veteran Texas Democrats.
Republicans also gained seats in the Senate, keeping Congress under party
control. But Democrats will retain enough votes there to make it hard for
Republicans to push through their programs.
Nevertheless, Republican leaders sought to portray the results as an
affirmation of their priorities in Congress. The vote is "an endorsement by the
American people that you're moving in the right direction when it comes to
security and safety and more — on terror, prescription drugs and education,"
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee told CNN.
In the House, Democrats knocked off one Republican incumbent — Rep. Philip M.
Crane of Illinois, the party's longest-serving member — but came nowhere close
to taking the 12 seats they needed to win back control.
Even celebrity didn't help. Kentucky Democrat Nick Clooney, father of actor
George Clooney and brother of the late singer-actress Rosemary Clooney, lost his
bid for an open seat to Geoff Davis.
Clooney said his defeat wasn't a reflection on his party. "We just picked the
wrong candidate this time," he said.
By early Wednesday, Republicans had won 228 seats and were leading in five
other races, which could give them at least 233 seats. Democrats had won 199
seats and led in two other contests.
Republicans hold a 227-205 advantage over Democrats in the outgoing House,
plus two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans who have retired and one
independent who sides with Democrats.
A minimum of 218 seats are needed for House control.
In case of a tie in the Electoral College between President
Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the House chooses the next president, which
likely means another four years in the White House for Bush.
Nearly all incumbents sailed to re-election, including former presidential
hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. Also returned for a second term was Rep.
Katherine Harris, R-Fla., who was secretary of state during the pivotal
presidential recount in the Sunshine State four years ago.
Besides Hastert and DeLay, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and
No. 2 Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland all won re-election.
But Crane, who suffered a career-ending defeat, said it was time to go. "I am
ready for retirement because the good Lord knows what he is doing," the
73-year-old said as he conceded defeat to Melissa Bean.
The Democratic businesswoman lost to Crane in 2002, but won Tuesday with 52
percent of the vote in a district that stretches from Chicago's northwest and
northern suburbs to the Wisconsin state line and was supposed to be one of the
most Republican in Illinois.
Democrat John Salazar also picked up a western Colorado seat vacated by a
retiring Republican, and was headed to Washington with younger brother Ken, who
was elected to the Senate.
But Republicans made sure history would be on their side by redrawing
congressional districts in Texas, causing four of five Democratic incumbents to
lose their seats, including two of the party's longest-serving members.
Reps. Charles Stenholm and Martin Frost, a former party leader and dean of
the Texas delegation, were defeated, as were Reps. Max Sandlin and Nick Lampson.
The four had a total of 68 years in the House.
Rep. Chet Edwards, the fifth targeted Democrat, survived in a central Texas
district that includes Bush's ranch.
Other Texas Democrats were still fighting in the courts, hoping for redrawn
districts so they can make a comeback.
A final tally for the House won't be available for several days. Two
Louisiana races headed toward runoffs with Republican Billy Tauzin III against
Democrat Charlie Melancon, and GOP candidate Charles Boustany and Democrat
Willie Mount. Other races were yet to be called, including in Pennsylvania,
Washington state, New York, Georgia and Indiana.
