United States Congressional Elections 1998

After a brutal three-way primary, Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun won her Senate seat in November 1992 with relative ease. No one expected her bid for reelection this fall to be quite as simple. But no one expected it to be like this. There was First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton declaring: "I'm giving Carol another chance." There was a Democratic state legislator from Illinois saying: "I'm feeling [Moseley-Braun's campaign] turning around."

With Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) poised to become the new speaker of the House, one advantage he's exploited to help solidify his support has little to do with ideology, policy or personal style. The leg up is money: campaign donations by Livingston to grateful Republican colleagues whose votes he now seeks.

In a remarkable reversal, the Democratic Party on Tuesday celebrated victories in pivotal Senate races and faced the stunning possibility that it might defy history and make small gains in the House. The president's party has almost always suffered heavy losses in midterm elections.

Two big-state choices for governor--the victories of Democrat Gray Davis in California and Republican George W. Bush in Texas--sent a resounding message to strategists in both political parties this week: The nation's voters are looking for moderation, not ideology. "California scares the hell out of me," said GOP pollster Frank Luntz, one of the architects of the 1994 conservative upsurge that gave Republicans control of Congress. "Social conservatism is not a dominant force anymore. . . .

Chastened Republicans on Wednesday sifted through the wreckage of House and Senate elections that weakened their congressional leadership, undercut their impeachment proceedings and cast a long shadow over their legislative agenda. "We have to look carefully at what happened and at what lessons Republicans have to learn," said House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Embroiled in a budget fight with an impeachment-minded Congress, President Clinton on Sunday urged voters to turn the midterm election into a national referendum, clearly hoping they will send Washington the message that they care more about pocketbook issues than the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal. With just 22 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, Clinton's comments significantly elevated the stakes.

Managed health care companies are pouring money into key congressional campaigns around the country in hopes of helping elect a Congress that will kill new efforts to slap stricter regulations on them. The industry, which consists mostly of health insurers and health maintenance organizations, has nearly doubled the amount of money it gave candidates and party organizations during a comparable period before the last midterm elections in 1994, when pressures for regulation were not so great.

President Clinton cast the approaching congressional elections Friday as a referendum on the domestic programs he failed to get the Republican-led Congress to pass, including his proposals to increase school construction and the minimum wage. Setting out on another day of campaigning--this time for Illinois Sen.

Hollywood producer and director Rob Reiner cannot remember the guy's name, but he knows he sent him $1,000 for his campaign to oust Idaho conservative Helen Chenoweth from the House of Representatives. "She's so extreme, she represents the worst part of the Republican Party that is becoming more and more vocal and powerful," Reiner said. Reiner's interest in a relatively obscure House contest is not unique.

In a striking shift of fortunes, Republican hopes of reaching a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate are fading as election day approaches and Democratic Senate candidates are making head-turning gains in key states. The recent upturn in the fortunes of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is being mirrored across the country as Democratic challengers are threatening to knock off GOP incumbent Sens. Alfonse M. D'Amato in New York and Lauch Faircloth in North Carolina.

With absentee ballots still being counted Thursday, Republican Molly Bordonaro conceded the 1st District congressional race to David Wu. It was the last congressional race in the country to be decided. Wu's win means the new House of Representatives will have 223 Republicans, 211 Democrats and one independent. Currently, there are 228 Republicans, 206 Democrats and one independent. He takes over the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Furse.

Chastened Republicans on Wednesday sifted through the wreckage of House and Senate elections that weakened their congressional leadership, undercut their impeachment proceedings and cast a long shadow over their legislative agenda. "We have to look carefully at what happened and at what lessons Republicans have to learn," said House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Here are returns in U.S. Senate races from around the nation. For California results, see the tables on state returns. (i)=incumbent. *--* Party Vote ALABAMA Clayton Suddith D 37% Richard Shelby (i) R 63% ALASKA Joseph Sonneman D 20% Frank Murkowski (i) R 75% ARIZONA Ed Ranger D 28% John McCain (i) R 68% ARKANSAS Blanche L. Lincoln D 55% Fay Boozman R 42% COLORADO Dottie Lamm D 35% Ben N. Campbell(i) R 62% CONNECTICUT Christopher Dodd (i) D 65% Gary A.

Here are the latest returns in House races nationwide except for California. For California results, see tables on state returns. (i)=incumbent. * denotes at-large district. **leader in incomplete returns. *--* Dist.

Most Americans said that their decision in Tuesday's stunning election was not a vote for or against President Clinton. But like a subterranean river, attitudes toward Clinton, the Republican Congress and the bitter battle over impeachment all helped to propel the Democrats' modest yet historic gains, according to a national exit poll conducted after the balloting.

In a remarkable reversal, the Democratic Party on Tuesday celebrated victories in pivotal Senate races and faced the stunning possibility that it might defy history and make small gains in the House. The president's party has almost always suffered heavy losses in midterm elections.

From the vantage point of Hillary Rodham Clinton's living room, things suddenly weren't looking so hideous. Democratic congresswomen arrived from all over the country, juggling schedules and catching red-eyes. Ten of them took a bus from the Capitol. They gathered in the elegant White House residence early last week, drinking coffee from china cups and eating danish. Nobody mentioned the M-name. They knew what to say, and they knew what not to say.

Two big-state choices for governor--the victories of Democrat Gray Davis in California and Republican George W. Bush in Texas--sent a resounding message to strategists in both political parties this week: The nation's voters are looking for moderation, not ideology. "California scares the hell out of me," said GOP pollster Frank Luntz, one of the architects of the 1994 conservative upsurge that gave Republicans control of Congress. "Social conservatism is not a dominant force anymore. . . .

What can we expect in U.S. foreign policy during President Clinton's last two years in the White House? What will his administration do with its final opportunity to make a lasting mark on America's relations with the rest of the world? American presidents have frequently taken advantage of the months after midterm congressional elections to press ahead with important initiatives overseas.

Here are the results of elections around the nation Tuesday. Not all returns were available at press time. ALABAMA * Governor--Donald Siegelman unseated Republican Forrest "Fob" James Jr., backed by the religious right, to become the state's first Democratic governor since 1982. * Senate--Republican incumbent Richard C. Shelby defeated Democrat Clayton Suddith, who mortgaged his pickup truck to run. * House--The Republicans held on to their 5-2 majority.