Election Feature: Democrats to control U.S. House
Published Nov. 8, 2006
The Democratic Party has won the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and it could still gain control of the Senate. After Tuesday's midterm election, this placed the executive branch and at least part of the legislative branch on opposite ends of the political spectrum.
The Republican Party has controlled the House since 1994, and GOP supporters are concerned with the implications of the turnover.
"Basically, I don't think anything is going to get done in the next two years," said MU College Republicans president Tyson Mutrux. "It's unfortunate, but I think that's how politics works."
Re-elected state Rep. Ed Robb, R-Columbia, said he is concerned by the effect the turnover could have on the economy.
"It's worrisome," Robb said. "I think there will be some push to repeal the tax cuts. I don't want to see a lot of new programs when we can't afford the ones we have."
One supporter of Republican U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof made a more optimistic prediction.
"It's going to change things," Columbia resident Jan Grossmann said. "It's going to make it more difficult for both sides to get their agendas achieved, but perhaps it will create less partisanship, which would be good for America."
MU College Democrats Vice President Stephen Griffard said the turnover will be a change for the better. Even before all of the Senate results were in, he was optimistic.
"If we do take back the Senate, we'll be able to hold the Republican administration accountable for the mistakes they've made," he said.
Democratic supporter and MU senior Michael A. Schwalbert said a turnover wouldn't cause any immediate change.
"If we win both houses, we'll still have to have things go by the über-conservative George W. Bush," he said.
With Democrat Claire McCaskill taking Missouri's Senate seat, control of the Senate hinges on the outcome of two states, Montana and Virginia, neither of which had been called at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Democrats would need both to fall their way to gain control, otherwise the GOP would narrowly keep power in the upper chamber.
—Staff writer Sarah Christiansen contributed to this report