Since 1914, the first year that Senators were directly elected by the voters under the 17th Amendment, there have been only 10 (and a half) switches from one majority party to another in the House of Representatives and/or Senate. If - as many analysts are suggesting - the House changes majorities in this election, but the Senate remains in Democratic hands, it will be the only time that has happened in the past 96 years.
In off-year elections, both houses flipped in 1918 (R), 1946 (R), 1954 (D), 1994 (R) and 2006 (D). In presidential election years, both houses flipped in 1932 (D), 1948 (D) and 1952 (R).
In off-year elections, the Senate flipped in 1986 (D) (and split evenly in 2000). In presidential election years, the Senate flipped in 1980 (R). But the House has never flipped in a year the Senate didn't. Which could make 2010 historic.
Not in a good way, obviously.
Here's how big those flips were:
1918
Senate: minus 7 Ds for a total of 47; plus 7 Rs for a total of 49
House: minus 22 Democrats for a total of 192; plus 25 Rs for a total of 240
1932
Senate: plus 12 Ds for a total of 59; minus 12 Rs for a total of 36
House: plus 97 Ds for a total of 313; minus 101 Rs for a total of 117 (Farm-Labor Party took 4 seats)
1946
Senate: minus 11 Ds for a total of 45; plus 12 Rs for a total of 51
House: minus 54 Ds for a total of 188; plus 55 Rs for a total of 246
1948
Senate: plus 9 Ds for a total of 54; minus 9 Rs for a total of 42
House: plus 75 Ds for a total of 263; minus 75 Rs for a total of 171
1952
Senate: minus 2 Ds for a total of 47; plus 2 Rs for a total of 48; 1 Independent
House: minus 22 Ds for a total of 213; minus plus 18 Rs for a total of 221
1954
Senate: plus 2 Ds for a total of 48; minus 2 Rs for a total of 47; 1 Independent
House: plus 19 Ds for a total of 232; minus 18 Rs for a total of 203
1980
Senate: minus 12 Ds for a total of 47 (including 1 Independent); plus 12 Rs for a total of 53
House: minus 35 Ds for a total of 242; plus 34 Rs for a total of 192
1986
Senate: plus 8 Ds for a total of 55; minus 8 Rs for a total of 45
House: plus 5 Ds for a total of 258; minus 5 for a total of 177
1994
Senate: minus 8 Ds for a total of 48; plus 8 Rs for a total of 52
House: minus 54 Ds for a total of 204; plus 54 Rs for a total of 230
2000
Senate: plus 4 Ds for a total of 50; minus 4 Rs for a total of 50
House: plus 1 D for a total of 212; minus 2 Rs for a total of 223
2006
Senate: plus 8 Ds for a total of 51 (including 2 Independents); minus 6 Rs for a total of 49
House: plus 31 Ds for a total of 233; minus 30 Rs for a total of 202
When the newly elected Senate was seated in January 2001 wasn't the only time there was a tie in the Senate since 1914. About half the time between January 1953 and January 1955, the plurality in the Senate shifted back and forth between Republicans and Democrats because nine Senators died during those two years, and because Republican Wayne Morse bolted from the Republicans, making a public show of voting for Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson.
• • • • •
At Daily Kos on this date in 2008:
Full sized SUVs may be gas guzzling, global warming, terrorist support'n automotive dinosaurs, but still, they're not all bad. My buddy KJ has a ridiculously large GMC with two rows of backseats like the one shown right. This week, we filled that big sucker up with some co-workers, trekked across town to an impressively busy, early voting location at lunch, and delivered a Truck Load of Change to the Florida polls.
What are you doing to Get Out The Vote? |