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{{Short description|Series of wins by the Republican Party in the 1994 United States mid-term elections}}
{{Short description|Series of wins by the Republican Party in the 1994 United States mid-term elections}}
{{About|the 1994 mid-term elections in the United States|the 1911 revolution that led to the establishment of the Republic of China|Xinhai Revolution}}
{{About|the 1994 mid-term elections in the United States|the revolution that led to the establishment of the Republic of China|1911 Revolution}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=March 2008}}
{{Original research|date=March 2008}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2007}}
}}
}}
{{Newt}}
{{Newt Gingrich series}}
{{Bill Clinton series|expanded=Tenure}}
{{conservatism US|history}}


⚫
The "'''Republican Revolution'''", "'''Revolution of '94'''", or "'''Gingrich Revolution'''" are political slogans that refer to the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]'s (GOP) success in the [[1994 United States elections|1994 U.S. mid-term elections]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030622214418/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-19-gop-revolution-usat_x.htm Republican Revolution Fades] USA Today, January 19, 2003</ref> which resulted in [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|a net gain of 54 seats]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], and [[1994 United States Senate elections|a pick-up of eight seats]] in the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. It was led by [[Newt Gingrich]].
[[File:Sonny Bono.jpg|thumb|upright|The renowned singer, entertainer, and ex-Mayor of [[Palm Springs]], [[Sonny Bono]] (Republican-[[California's 44th congressional district|California]]), was elected in 1994.]]


==History==
⚫
The '''Republican Revolution''', '''Revolution of '94''', or '''Gingrich Revolution''', refers to the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] (GOP) success in the [[1994 United States elections|1994 U.S. mid-term elections]],<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-19-gop-revolution-usat_x.htm Republican Revolution Fades] USA Today, January 19, 2003</ref> which resulted in [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|a net gain of 54 seats]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], and [[1994 United States Senate elections|a pick-up of eight seats]] in the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. On November 9, 1994, the day after the election, Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of Alabama, a [[Conservative Democrats|conservative Democrat]], changed parties, becoming a Republican; on March 3, 1995, [[Colorado]] Senator [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell]] switched to the Republican side as well, increasing the GOP Senate majority.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_changed_parties.htm#16|title = U.S. Senate: Senators Who Changed Parties During Senate Service (Since 1890)}}</ref>
⚫
Rather than campaigning independently in each district, Republican candidates chose to rally behind a single national program and message fronted by Georgia congressman and House Republican whip [[Newt Gingrich]]. They alleged that President [[Bill Clinton]] was not the "[[New Democrats (United States)|New Democrat]]" he claimed to be during his 1992 campaign, but was a "[[tax and spend]]" liberal. The Republicans offered an alternative to Clinton's policies in the form of the [[Contract with America]].<ref name="clinton1">{{Cite web |last=Rothenberg |first=Stuart |author-link=Stuart Rothenberg |date=October 23, 2006 |title=How High the Wave? Don't Just Think 1994; Think 1974, 1958, 1982 |url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/news/article/how-high-the-wave-dont-just-think-1994-think-1974-1958-1982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622062347/http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/news/article/how-high-the-wave-dont-just-think-1994-think-1974-1958-1982 |archive-date=2011-06-22 |access-date=2015-01-11 |website=RothenbergPoliticalReport.com}}</ref>


⚫
The gains in seats in the mid-term election resulted in the Republicans gaining control of both the House and the Senate in January 1995. Republicans had not held the majority in the House for 40 years, since the [[83rd United States Congress|83rd Congress]] (elected in [[1952 United States House of Representatives elections|1952]]). From 1933 to 1995, Republicans had controlled both House and Senate for only four years. From 1933 into the early 1970s, most white conservatives in the South belonged to the Democratic Party, and created the [[Solid South]] bloc in Congress. Most African Americans in the South were [[Disfranchisement after the Reconstruction era|disenfranchised]] in those years, based on [[Jim Crow laws|anti-Black laws]] and [[Black suffrage in the United States|subjective administration]] of voter registration practices.
⚫
Rather than campaigning independently in each district, Republican candidates chose to rally behind a single national program and message fronted by Georgia congressman and House Republican whip [[Newt Gingrich]]. They alleged that President [[Bill Clinton]] was not the "[[New Democrats|New Democrat]]" he claimed to be during his 1992 campaign, but was a "[[tax and spend]]" liberal. The Republicans offered an alternative to Clinton's policies in the form of the [[Contract with America]].<ref name="clinton1">{{cite web|url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/news/article/how-high-the-wave-dont-just-think-1994-think-1974-1958-1982|title=How High the Wave? Don't Just Think 1994; Think 1974, 1958, 1982 – News & Analysis – The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report|author=David Russell|publisher=Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com|access-date=11 January 2015}}</ref>


⚫
By the mid-1990s, white conservatives from the South joined Republicans in other parts of the country, leading to the change in Congress. Large Republican gains were made in state houses as well when the GOP picked up twelve gubernatorial seats and 472 legislative seats. In so doing, it took control of 20 state legislatures from the Democrats. Prior to this, Republicans had not held the majority of governorships since 1970. In addition, this was the first time in 50 years that the GOP controlled a majority of state legislatures.
⚫
The gains in seats in the mid-term election resulted in the Republicans gaining control of both the House and the Senate in January 1995. Republicans had not held the majority in the House for 40 years, since the [[Eighty-third United States Congress|83rd Congress]] (elected in [[1952 United States House of Representatives elections|1952]]). From 1933 to 1995, Republicans had controlled both House and Senate for only four years. From 1933 into the early 1970s, most white conservatives in the South belonged to the Democratic Party, and created the [[Solid South]] bloc in Congress. Most African Americans in the South were [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchised]] in those years, based on laws and subjective administration of voter registration practices.

⚫
By the mid-1990s, white conservatives from the South joined Republicans in other parts of the country, leading to the change in Congress. Large Republican gains were made in state houses as well when the GOP picked up twelve gubernatorial seats and 472 legislative seats. In so doing, it took control of 20 state legislatures from the Democrats. Prior to this, Republicans had not held the majority of governorships since 1972. In addition, this was the first time in 50 years that the GOP controlled a majority of state legislatures.


Discontent with Democratic candidates was foreshadowed by a string of elections after 1992, including Republicans winning the mayoralties of [[New York City|New York]] and [[Los Angeles]] in 1993. In that same year, [[Christine Todd Whitman]] [[1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election|won]] the New Jersey governorship. [[Bret Schundler]] became the first Republican mayor of [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], which had been held by the Democratic Party since 1917.
Discontent with Democratic candidates was foreshadowed by a string of elections after 1992, including Republicans winning the mayoralties of [[New York City|New York]] and [[Los Angeles]] in 1993. In that same year, [[Christine Todd Whitman]] [[1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election|won]] the New Jersey governorship. [[Bret Schundler]] became the first Republican mayor of [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], which had been held by the Democratic Party since 1917.


Republican [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]] won the [[1993 Virginia gubernatorial election]], and Texas Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] won a U.S. Senate seat from the Democrats in the [[1993 United States Senate special election in Texas|1993 special election]]. Republicans also picked up three congressional seats from Democrats in [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections#Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] and [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections#Kentucky|Kentucky]] in May 1994.
Republican [[George Allen (American politician)|George Allen]] won the [[1993 Virginia gubernatorial election]], and Texas Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] won a U.S. Senate seat from the Democrats in the [[1993 United States Senate special election in Texas|1993 special election]]. Republicans also picked up three congressional seats from Democrats in [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections#Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] and [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections#Kentucky|Kentucky]] in May 1994.

On November 9, 1994, the day after the election, Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of Alabama, a [[conservative Democrat]], changed parties, becoming a Republican; on March 3, 1995, [[Colorado]] Senator [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell]] switched to the Republican side as well, increasing the GOP Senate majority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Senators Who Changed Parties During Senate Service (Since 1890) |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_changed_parties.htm#16 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Senate.gov |publisher=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref>


== Ramifications ==
== Effect ==
When the [[104th United States Congress]] convened in January 1995, House Republicans voted former [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives#Whips|Minority Whip]] [[Newt Gingrich]] — the chief author of the [[Contract with America]] — to become [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]. The new senatorial Republican majority chose [[Bob Dole]], previously [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Minority Leader]], as [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]]. Republicans pursued an ambitious agenda, but were often forced to compromise with Democratic president [[Bill Clinton]], who wielded [[veto]] power.
When the [[104th United States Congress]] convened in January 1995, House Republicans voted former [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives#Whips|Minority Whip]] [[Newt Gingrich]]—the chief author of the [[Contract with America]]—to become [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]. The new senatorial Republican majority chose [[Bob Dole]], previously [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Minority Leader]], as [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]]. Republicans pursued an ambitious agenda, but were often forced to compromise with Democratic president [[Bill Clinton]], who wielded [[veto]] power.


The 1994 election also marked the end of the [[conservative coalition]], a bi-partisan coalition of conservative Republicans and Democrats (often referred to as "[[Boll weevil (politics)|boll weevil Democrats]]", for their association with the [[Southern Democrats|South]]). This white conservative coalition had often managed to control Congressional outcomes since the [[New Deal]] era.
The 1994 election also marked the end of the [[conservative coalition]], a bi-partisan coalition of conservative Republicans and Democrats (often referred to as "[[Boll weevil (politics)|boll weevil Democrats]]", for their association with the [[Southern Democrats|South]]). This white conservative coalition had often managed to control Congressional outcomes since the end of the [[New Deal]] era.


== Pick-ups ==
== Pick-ups ==
Numerous Republican freshmen entered Congress. Of the 230 Republican [[United States House of Representatives|House]] members of the [[104th Congress]], almost a third were new to the House.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Amer |first= Mildred |title= Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913–2005 |journal= CRS Report for Congress |pages= 1–6 |publisher= The Library of Congress |date= June 16, 2005 |url= http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf
Numerous Republican freshmen entered Congress. Of the 230 Republican [[United States House of Representatives|House]] members of the [[104th Congress]], almost a third were new to the House.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amer |first=Mildred |date=June 16, 2005 |title=Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913–2005 |url=http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=CRS Report for Congress |publisher=The [[Library of Congress]] |pages=1–6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528191435/http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |access-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref> In the Senate, 11 of 54 (20%) Republicans were freshmen.
|access-date= May 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080528191435/http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf |archive-date = May 28, 2008 }}</ref> In the Senate, 11 of 54 (20%) Republicans were freshmen.


=== Senate ===
=== Senate ===
Line 41: Line 43:
| [[Alabama]]
| [[Alabama]]
| Himself as a Democrat
| Himself as a Democrat
| Switched parties<ref group="lower-alpha">Shelby had been elected in 1986 and 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1994.</ref>
| Switched parties<ref group="lower-alpha">Shelby had been elected in [[1986 United States Senate election in Alabama|1986]] and [[1992 United States Senate election in Alabama|1992]] as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1994.</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Jon Kyl]]
| [[Jon Kyl]]
Line 51: Line 53:
| [[Colorado]]
| [[Colorado]]
| Himself as a Democrat
| Himself as a Democrat
| Switched parties<ref group="lower-alpha">Campbell was elected in 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties on March 3, 1995.</ref>
| Switched parties<ref group="lower-alpha">Campbell was elected in [[1992 United States Senate election in Colorado|1992]] as a Democrat, but switched parties on March 3, 1995.</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Olympia Snowe]]
| [[Olympia Snowe]]
Line 60: Line 62:
| [[Spencer Abraham]]
| [[Spencer Abraham]]
| [[Michigan]]
| [[Michigan]]
| [[Donald W. Riegle, Jr.|Don Riegle]]
| [[Donald Riegle]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
Line 70: Line 72:
| [[Jim Inhofe]]
| [[Jim Inhofe]]
| [[Oklahoma]]
| [[Oklahoma]]
| [[David L. Boren|David Boren]]
| [[David Boren]]
| Retired<ref group="lower-alpha">Boren resigned to assume the presidency of the [[University of Oklahoma]]; Inhofe was elected to serve the remaining two years of the term.</ref>
| Retired<ref group="lower-alpha">Boren's impending resignation to assume the presidency of the [[University of Oklahoma]] triggered a special election where Inhofe won. Boren resigned a week after the special election, with Inhofe being sworn in 2 days later for the remainder of Boren's term ending in 1997.</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Rick Santorum]]
| [[Rick Santorum]]
Line 81: Line 83:
| [[Tennessee]]
| [[Tennessee]]
| [[Harlan Mathews]]
| [[Harlan Mathews]]
| Retired<ref group="lower-alpha">Mathews was appointed to the seat as a caretaker following the resignation of [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]-elect [[Al Gore]]; Thompson was elected to serve the remaining two years of the term.</ref>
| Retired<ref group="lower-alpha">Mathews was appointed to the seat as a caretaker following the resignation of [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Al Gore]]; Thompson was elected to serve the remaining two years of the term.</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Bill Frist]]
| [[Bill Frist]]
Line 91: Line 93:
| [[Texas]]
| [[Texas]]
| [[Bob Krueger]]
| [[Bob Krueger]]
| Defeated<ref group="lower-alpha"> Hutchison won the Senate seat from the Democrats in the 1993 special election, seen as a precursor to the Republican Revolution.</ref>
| Defeated<ref group="lower-alpha">Hutchison won the Senate seat from the Democrats in the [[1993 United States Senate special election in Texas|1993 special election]] to succeed Bob Krueger, who had been appointed to this seat following the resignation of [[Lloyd Bentsen]], who had become the [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]], seen as a precursor to the Republican Revolution.</ref>
|}
|}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Line 130: Line 132:
| [[Joe Scarborough]]
| [[Joe Scarborough]]
| [[Florida's 1st congressional district|Florida-1]]
| [[Florida's 1st congressional district|Florida-1]]
| [[Earl Dewitt Hutto|Earl Hutto]]
| [[Earl Hutto]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
Line 140: Line 142:
| [[Bob Barr]]
| [[Bob Barr]]
| [[Georgia's 7th congressional district|Georgia-7]]
| [[Georgia's 7th congressional district|Georgia-7]]
| [[George Darden|Buddy Darden]]
| [[Buddy Darden]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
Line 150: Line 152:
| [[Charlie Norwood]]
| [[Charlie Norwood]]
| [[Georgia's 10th congressional district|Georgia-10]]
| [[Georgia's 10th congressional district|Georgia-10]]
| [[Clete Donald Johnson, Jr.|Don Johnson]]
| [[Don Johnson Jr.]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
Line 158: Line 160:
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[Michael Patrick Flanagan|Michael Flanagan]]
| [[Michael Flanagan (American politician)|Michael Flanagan]]
| [[Illinois's 5th congressional district|Illinois-5]]
| [[Illinois's 5th congressional district|Illinois-5]]
| [[Dan Rostenkowski]]
| [[Dan Rostenkowski]]
Line 165: Line 167:
| [[Jerry Weller]]
| [[Jerry Weller]]
| [[Illinois's 11th congressional district|Illinois-11]]
| [[Illinois's 11th congressional district|Illinois-11]]
| [[George E. Sangmeister|George Sangmeister]]
| [[George Sangmeister]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
| [[David M. McIntosh|David McIntosh]]
| [[David McIntosh (politician)|David McIntosh]]
| [[Indiana's 2nd congressional district|Indiana-2]]
| [[Indiana's 2nd congressional district|Indiana-2]]
| [[Philip Sharp (American politician)|Phil Sharp]]
| [[Philip Sharp (politician)|Phil Sharp]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
Line 185: Line 187:
| [[Greg Ganske]]
| [[Greg Ganske]]
| [[Iowa's 4th congressional district|Iowa-4]]
| [[Iowa's 4th congressional district|Iowa-4]]
| [[Neal Edward Smith|Neal Smith]]
| [[Neal Smith (politician)|Neal Smith]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
Line 203: Line 205:
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[James B. Longley, Jr.|Jim Longley]]
| [[James B. Longley Jr.|Jim Longley]]
| [[Maine's 1st congressional district|Maine-1]]
| [[Maine's 1st congressional district|Maine-1]]
| [[Thomas Andrews (politician)|Tom Andrews]]
| [[Thomas Andrews (American politician)|Tom Andrews]]
| Retired; ran for [[U.S. Senate]]
| Retired; ran for [[U.S. Senate]]
|-
|-
Line 215: Line 217:
| [[Dick Chrysler]]
| [[Dick Chrysler]]
| [[Michigan's 8th congressional district|Michigan-8]]
| [[Michigan's 8th congressional district|Michigan-8]]
| [[Milton Robert Carr|Bob Carr]]
| [[Bob Carr (Michigan politician)|Bob Carr]]
| Retired; ran for [[U.S. Senate]]
| Retired; ran for [[U.S. Senate]]
|-
|-
Line 225: Line 227:
| [[Roger Wicker]]
| [[Roger Wicker]]
| [[Mississippi's 1st congressional district|Mississippi-1]]
| [[Mississippi's 1st congressional district|Mississippi-1]]
| [[Jamie L. Whitten|Jamie Whitten]]
| [[Jamie Whitten]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
Line 248: Line 250:
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
| [[William J. Martini|Bill Martini]]
| [[Bill Martini]]
| [[New Jersey's 8th congressional district|New Jersey-8]]
| [[New Jersey's 8th congressional district|New Jersey-8]]
| [[Herb Klein (politician)|Herb Klein]]
| [[Herb Klein (politician)|Herb Klein]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[Michael Forbes]]
| [[Michael Forbes (politician)|Michael Forbes]]
| [[New York's 1st congressional district|New York-1]]
| [[New York's 1st congressional district|New York-1]]
| [[George J. Hochbrueckner|George Hochbrueckner]]
| [[George J. Hochbrueckner|George Hochbrueckner]]
Line 310: Line 312:
| [[Jim Bunn]]
| [[Jim Bunn]]
| [[Oregon's 5th congressional district|Oregon-5]]
| [[Oregon's 5th congressional district|Oregon-5]]
| [[Michael J. Kopetski|Mike Kopetski]]
| [[Mike Kopetski]]
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
Line 343: Line 345:
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[Enid Greene]] Waldholtz
| [[Enid Greene Mickelsen|Enid Greene Waldholtz]]
| [[Utah's 2nd congressional district|Utah-2]]
| [[Utah's 2nd congressional district|Utah-2]]
| [[Karen Shepherd]]
| [[Karen Shepherd]]
Line 350: Line 352:
| [[Thomas M. Davis|Tom Davis]]
| [[Thomas M. Davis|Tom Davis]]
| [[Virginia's 11th congressional district|Virginia-11]]
| [[Virginia's 11th congressional district|Virginia-11]]
| [[Leslie L. Byrne|Leslie Byrne]]
| [[Leslie Byrne]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[Rick White (Washington)|Rick White]]
| [[Rick White (politician)|Rick White]]
| [[Washington's 1st congressional district|Washington-1]]
| [[Washington's 1st congressional district|Washington-1]]
| [[Maria Cantwell]]
| [[Maria Cantwell]]
| Defeated<ref group="lower-alpha">Cantwell eventually elected as Senator in [[2000 United States Senate election in Washington|2000]].</ref>
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[Jack Metcalf (politician)|Jack Metcalf]]
| [[Jack Metcalf (politician)|Jack Metcalf]]
Line 371: Line 373:
| [[Washington's 4th congressional district|Washington-4]]
| [[Washington's 4th congressional district|Washington-4]]
| [[Jay Inslee]]
| [[Jay Inslee]]
| Defeated<ref group="lower-alpha">Inslee eventually returned to the Congress in 1999 following his victory in the [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington|1998 House of Representatives elections]].</ref>
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[George Nethercutt]]
| [[George Nethercutt]]
Line 389: Line 391:
|-
|-
|}
|}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


=== Governorships ===
=== Governorships ===
Line 400: Line 403:
| [[Fob James]]
| [[Fob James]]
| [[Alabama]]
| [[Alabama]]
| [[Jim Folsom Jr.|Jim Folsom, Jr.]]
| [[Jim Folsom Jr.]]
| Defeated
| Defeated
|-
|-
| [[John G. Rowland|John Rowland]]
| [[John G. Rowland]]
| [[Connecticut]]
| [[Connecticut]]
| [[Lowell P. Weicker Jr.|Lowell Weicker]]<ref group="lower-alpha"> Weicker was a member of [[A Connecticut Party]].</ref>
| [[Lowell P. Weicker Jr.]]<ref group="lower-alpha">Weicker was a member of [[A Connecticut Party]].</ref>
| Retired
| Retired
|-
|-
| [[Phil Batt]]
| [[Phil Batt]]
| [[Idaho]]
| [[Idaho]]
| [[Cecil D. Andrus|Cecil Andrus]]
| [[Cecil D. Andrus]]
| Retired
| Term limited
|-
|-
| [[Bill Graves]]
| [[Bill Graves]]
Line 435: Line 438:
| [[Tom Ridge]]
| [[Tom Ridge]]
| [[Pennsylvania]]
| [[Pennsylvania]]
| [[Robert P. Casey|Bob Casey]]
| [[Bob Casey Sr.]]
| Term limited
| Term-limited
|-
|-
| [[Lincoln Almond]]
| [[Lincoln Almond]]
Line 446: Line 449:
| [[Tennessee]]
| [[Tennessee]]
| [[Ned McWherter]]
| [[Ned McWherter]]
| Term limited
| Term-limited
|-
|-
| [[George W. Bush]]
| [[George W. Bush]]
Line 456: Line 459:
| [[Wyoming]]
| [[Wyoming]]
| [[Mike Sullivan (governor)|Mike Sullivan]]
| [[Mike Sullivan (governor)|Mike Sullivan]]
| Term limited
| Term-limited
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 478: Line 481:


{{Newt Gingrich}}
{{Newt Gingrich}}
{{Presidency of Bill Clinton}}


[[Category:1994 in American politics]]
[[Category:1994 in American politics]]
Line 483: Line 487:
[[Category:Political history of the United States]]
[[Category:Political history of the United States]]
[[Category:Politics of the Southern United States]]
[[Category:Politics of the Southern United States]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:History of the Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Presidency of Bill Clinton]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 13:52, 3 November 2024

This article is about the 1994 mid-term elections in the United States. For the revolution that led to the establishment of the Republic of China, see 1911 Revolution.
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The "Republican Revolution", "Revolution of '94", or "Gingrich Revolution" are political slogans that refer to the Republican Party's (GOP) success in the 1994 U.S. mid-term elections,[1] which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pick-up of eight seats in the Senate. It was led by Newt Gingrich.

History

[edit]

Rather than campaigning independently in each district, Republican candidates chose to rally behind a single national program and message fronted by Georgia congressman and House Republican whip Newt Gingrich. They alleged that President Bill Clinton was not the "New Democrat" he claimed to be during his 1992 campaign, but was a "tax and spend" liberal. The Republicans offered an alternative to Clinton's policies in the form of the Contract with America.[2]

The gains in seats in the mid-term election resulted in the Republicans gaining control of both the House and the Senate in January 1995. Republicans had not held the majority in the House for 40 years, since the 83rd Congress (elected in 1952). From 1933 to 1995, Republicans had controlled both House and Senate for only four years. From 1933 into the early 1970s, most white conservatives in the South belonged to the Democratic Party, and created the Solid South bloc in Congress. Most African Americans in the South were disenfranchised in those years, based on anti-Black laws and subjective administration of voter registration practices.

By the mid-1990s, white conservatives from the South joined Republicans in other parts of the country, leading to the change in Congress. Large Republican gains were made in state houses as well when the GOP picked up twelve gubernatorial seats and 472 legislative seats. In so doing, it took control of 20 state legislatures from the Democrats. Prior to this, Republicans had not held the majority of governorships since 1970. In addition, this was the first time in 50 years that the GOP controlled a majority of state legislatures.

Discontent with Democratic candidates was foreshadowed by a string of elections after 1992, including Republicans winning the mayoralties of New York and Los Angeles in 1993. In that same year, Christine Todd Whitman won the New Jersey governorship. Bret Schundler became the first Republican mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, which had been held by the Democratic Party since 1917.

Republican George Allen won the 1993 Virginia gubernatorial election, and Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison won a U.S. Senate seat from the Democrats in the 1993 special election. Republicans also picked up three congressional seats from Democrats in Oklahoma and Kentucky in May 1994.

On November 9, 1994, the day after the election, Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, a conservative Democrat, changed parties, becoming a Republican; on March 3, 1995, Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell switched to the Republican side as well, increasing the GOP Senate majority.[3]

Effect

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When the 104th United States Congress convened in January 1995, House Republicans voted former Minority Whip Newt Gingrich—the chief author of the Contract with America—to become Speaker of the House. The new senatorial Republican majority chose Bob Dole, previously Minority Leader, as Majority Leader. Republicans pursued an ambitious agenda, but were often forced to compromise with Democratic president Bill Clinton, who wielded veto power.

The 1994 election also marked the end of the conservative coalition, a bi-partisan coalition of conservative Republicans and Democrats (often referred to as "boll weevil Democrats", for their association with the South). This white conservative coalition had often managed to control Congressional outcomes since the end of the New Deal era.

Pick-ups

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Numerous Republican freshmen entered Congress. Of the 230 Republican House members of the 104th Congress, almost a third were new to the House.[4] In the Senate, 11 of 54 (20%) Republicans were freshmen.

Senate

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Name State Predecessor Predecessor's fate
Richard Shelby Alabama Himself as a Democrat Switched parties[a]
Jon Kyl Arizona Dennis DeConcini Retired
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Colorado Himself as a Democrat Switched parties[b]
Olympia Snowe Maine George Mitchell Retired
Spencer Abraham Michigan Donald Riegle Retired
Mike DeWine Ohio Howard Metzenbaum Retired
Jim Inhofe Oklahoma David Boren Retired[c]
Rick Santorum Pennsylvania Harris Wofford Defeated
Fred Thompson Tennessee Harlan Mathews Retired[d]
Bill Frist Tennessee Jim Sasser Defeated
Kay Bailey Hutchison Texas Bob Krueger Defeated[e]
  1. ^ Shelby had been elected in 1986 and 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1994.
  2. ^ Campbell was elected in 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties on March 3, 1995.
  3. ^ Boren's impending resignation to assume the presidency of the University of Oklahoma triggered a special election where Inhofe won. Boren resigned a week after the special election, with Inhofe being sworn in 2 days later for the remainder of Boren's term ending in 1997.
  4. ^ Mathews was appointed to the seat as a caretaker following the resignation of Vice President Al Gore; Thompson was elected to serve the remaining two years of the term.
  5. ^ Hutchison won the Senate seat from the Democrats in the 1993 special election to succeed Bob Krueger, who had been appointed to this seat following the resignation of Lloyd Bentsen, who had become the Secretary of the Treasury, seen as a precursor to the Republican Revolution.

House of Representatives

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Name District Predecessor Predecessor's fate
Matt Salmon Arizona-1 Sam Coppersmith Retired; ran for U.S. Senate
J. D. Hayworth Arizona-6 Karan English Defeated
Frank Riggs California-1 Dan Hamburg Defeated
George Radanovich California-19 Richard Lehman Defeated
Brian Bilbray California-49 Lynn Schenk Defeated
Joe Scarborough Florida-1 Earl Hutto Retired
Dave Weldon Florida-15 Jim Bacchus Retired
Bob Barr Georgia-7 Buddy Darden Defeated
Saxby Chambliss Georgia-8 J. Roy Rowland Retired
Charlie Norwood Georgia-10 Don Johnson Jr. Defeated
Helen Chenoweth Idaho-1 Larry LaRocco Defeated
Michael Flanagan Illinois-5 Dan Rostenkowski Defeated
Jerry Weller Illinois-11 George Sangmeister Retired
David McIntosh Indiana-2 Phil Sharp Retired
Mark Souder Indiana-4 Jill Long Thompson Defeated
John Hostettler Indiana-8 Frank McCloskey Defeated
Greg Ganske Iowa-4 Neal Smith Defeated
Sam Brownback Kansas-2 Jim Slattery Retired; ran for Governor
Todd Tiahrt Kansas-4 Dan Glickman Defeated
Ed Whitfield Kentucky-1 Tom Barlow Defeated
Jim Longley Maine-1 Tom Andrews Retired; ran for U.S. Senate
Bob Ehrlich Maryland-2 Helen Bentley Retired; ran for Governor of Maryland
Dick Chrysler Michigan-8 Bob Carr Retired; ran for U.S. Senate
Gil Gutknecht Minnesota-1 Tim Penny Retired
Roger Wicker Mississippi-1 Jamie Whitten Retired
Jon Christensen Nebraska-2 Peter Hoagland Defeated
John Ensign Nevada-1 James Bilbray Defeated
Charlie Bass New Hampshire-2 Dick Swett Defeated
Frank LoBiondo New Jersey-2 Bill Hughes Retired
Bill Martini New Jersey-8 Herb Klein Defeated
Michael Forbes New York-1 George Hochbrueckner Defeated
David Funderburk North Carolina-2 Tim Valentine Retired
Walter Jones North Carolina-3 Martin Lancaster Defeated
Fred Heineman North Carolina-4 David Price Defeated
Richard Burr North Carolina-5 Steve Neal Retired
Steve Chabot Ohio-1 David Mann Defeated
Frank Cremeans Ohio-6 Ted Strickland Defeated
Bob Ney Ohio-18 Doug Applegate Retired
Steve LaTourette Ohio-19 Eric Fingerhut Defeated
Tom Coburn Oklahoma-2 Mike Synar Defeated (in primary)
J. C. Watts Oklahoma-4 Dave McCurdy Retired; ran for U.S. Senate
Jim Bunn Oregon-5 Mike Kopetski Retired
Jon Fox Pennsylvania-13 Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky Defeated
Lindsey Graham South Carolina-3 Butler Derrick Retired
Zach Wamp Tennessee-3 Marilyn Lloyd Retired
Van Hilleary Tennessee-4 Jim Cooper Retired; ran for U.S. Senate
Steve Stockman Texas-9 Jack Brooks Defeated
Mac Thornberry Texas-13 Bill Sarpalius Defeated
Enid Greene Waldholtz Utah-2 Karen Shepherd Defeated
Tom Davis Virginia-11 Leslie Byrne Defeated
Rick White Washington-1 Maria Cantwell Defeated[a]
Jack Metcalf Washington-2 Al Swift Retired
Linda Smith Washington-3 Jolene Unsoeld Defeated
Doc Hastings Washington-4 Jay Inslee Defeated[b]
George Nethercutt Washington-5 Tom Foley Defeated
Randy Tate Washington-9 Mike Kreidler Defeated
Mark Neumann Wisconsin-1 Peter Barca Defeated
  1. ^ Cantwell eventually elected as Senator in 2000.
  2. ^ Inslee eventually returned to the Congress in 1999 following his victory in the 1998 House of Representatives elections.

Governorships

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Name State Predecessor Predecessor's fate
Fob James Alabama Jim Folsom Jr. Defeated
John G. Rowland Connecticut Lowell P. Weicker Jr.[a] Retired
Phil Batt Idaho Cecil D. Andrus Retired
Bill Graves Kansas Joan Finney Retired
Gary Johnson New Mexico Bruce King Defeated
George Pataki New York Mario Cuomo Defeated
Frank Keating Oklahoma David Walters Retired
Tom Ridge Pennsylvania Bob Casey Sr. Term-limited
Lincoln Almond Rhode Island Bruce Sundlun Defeated (in primary)
Don Sundquist Tennessee Ned McWherter Term-limited
George W. Bush Texas Ann Richards Defeated
Jim Geringer Wyoming Mike Sullivan Term-limited
  1. ^ Weicker was a member of A Connecticut Party.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Republican Revolution Fades USA Today, January 19, 2003
  2. ^ Rothenberg, Stuart (October 23, 2006). "How High the Wave? Don't Just Think 1994; Think 1974, 1958, 1982". RothenbergPoliticalReport.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  3. ^ "U.S. Senate: Senators Who Changed Parties During Senate Service (Since 1890)". Senate.gov. United States Senate. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  4. ^ Amer, Mildred (June 16, 2005). "Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913–2005" (PDF). CRS Report for Congress. The Library of Congress: 1–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
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