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| BALANCE OF POWER |
| old | new | +/- |
SENATE
GOP:
DEMS: |
55
45 |
55
45 |
0
0 |
HOUSE
GOP:
DEMS:
IND: |
228
206
1 |
223
211
1 |
-5
+5
0 |
GOVERNOR
GOP:
DEMS:
IND: |
32
17
1 |
31
17
2 |
-1
0
+1 |
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| RELATED STORIES |
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How severe will the House 'six-year itch' be? (11-2-98)
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| COMMUNITY |
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Post your opinions on the November races
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Democrats to make historic gains in House
As president's party, Democrats would buck historical curse
ATLANTA (AllPolitics, November 3) -- Election '98 proved to be a huge night for Democrats, as CNN estimates that they will pick up four seats in the House. Any gains would mark the first time the party in control of the White House has gained seats in an off-year election since 1934.
But a four-seat gain would fall short of the 11 seats Democrats need to retake control from the Republicans.
Early returns show that throughout the nation only one House Democratic incumbent was lose -- Rep. Jay Johnson who was defeated in Wisconsin 8th congressional district.
In the 1998 election cycle, Democrats have been battling a historical curse. Only the once since the Civil War has the president's party made gains during a midterm election, and since World War II, losses in the House have averaged 27 seats.
The number of seats lost has been even more extreme in elections held midway through the president's second term, like this year, in a phenomenon dubbed the "six-year itch." Over the past five "six-year itch" elections, the party holding the White House has lost an average of 44 House seats.
Though a big swing in the House makeup was not expected going into the Tuesday election, most analysts were predicting that Republicans would make modest, single-digit gains.
With all 435 seats up for grabs, only 40 to 50 of the races were earmarked as competitive -- half the number in most years. There are currently 228 Republicans, 206 Democrats and 1 independent in the House.
OVERVIEW:
SENATE RACES:
HOUSE RACES:
GOVERNORS' RACES:
BALLOT RACES:
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