1994 Republican Revolution Erased in U.S. House
Democrats Return GOP to Pre-Newt Gingrich Minority in 2008 Election
The last remnants of the 1994 Republican Revolution, during which the GOP seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years, were completely erased in the 2008 elections.
The revolution, led by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and predicated on a “Contract with America” that promised to change the way business was done in Washington, seized 54 House seats from Democrats and led to more than a decade of Republican dominance on Capitol Hill.
But Democrats regained those seats in the last two elections, including 31 seats in 2006 and 20 more in the 2008 election, and have for the first time in 14 years relegated Republicans to their pre-revolution 176-seat minority status.
Voter Discontent Key to House Turnover
The success of Republicans in 1994 and Democrats in 2008 was due in large part to the public’s discontent with Congress, its partisan bickering and its inability to pass meaningful legislation.
Republicans swept into office in a “throw-the-bums-out” rush fueled by voters disappointed with Democrats’ ineffectiveness and scandals, epitomized by Rep. Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and a 36-year member who was sentenced to prison for putting “ghost employees” on his payroll and exchanging postal stamps for cash at the Post Office.
A Revolution Rises and Falls
Republicans enacted most of their “Contract with America” early on in 1995, establishing new rules for the way the House conducted business, including placing term limits on its members.
It wasn’t long, however, before Republicans eager to maintain control of the House reversed many of those changes, including their pledge to leave the House after three terms or 12 years. Infighting and scandals led to Gingrich’s exit after the disastrous 1998 elections in which voters awarded Democrats five additional seats.
Republicans managed to hold on to their majority, gaining a total of 12 seats in 2002 and 2004 campaigns, but then lost it in 2006 because of public disapproval of the Republican president and a lobbying scandal that ensnared several prominent GOP leaders.
The 1994 and 2008 Scorecards
Republicans won 54 seats in the 1994 elections, dethroning 34 Democratic incumbents in the process and rising from a 258-176 minority in 1992 to a 230-204 majority in 1994.
When the 111th Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2009, Democrats will enjoy a majority of about 256-175, though the results of several House races had not been finalized as of Nov. 21, 2008.
Highlights of 2008 House Races
Republican election casualties littered the national landscape this year. Among the highlights for Democrats were:
- Sixteen Republican House incumbents were defeated in the 2008 primary and general elections. Twenty-five others resigned or retired prior to the election.
- The ouster of Republican Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, who as seeking an 11th term, by Democrat Jim Himes. Shay’s loss leaves New England without a single Republican in Congress.
- Democrats seized three seats previously held by Republicans, including the last Republican seat left in New York City.
- Incumbent Republican Rep. Steven Chabot, who was seeking an eighth term, lost his seat to Democrat Steve Driehaus.
- Democrats seized two Republican seats held by Rep. Tom Fenney and Rep. Ric Keller.
Newt Gingrich
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