Democrats Seize House, Gain Governors; Senate Still Waiting For Leader

WOW! What a night.

The Democrats , for the first time in 12 years, have control of a house of Congress. This could also be the first time, since modern voting began, where one house has gone one way, and another house possibly going another. Of course, that's all up to the voters in Montana & Virginia.

Who would have thought that Montana could be the focus of the country. In Montana's Senate race, John Tester (D) holds a slight lead over Conrad Burns (R), 49-48% (Tester leads by roughly 4,000 votes, with 84% of the precincts reporting.) I assume there will be a recount here.

In Virginia's Senate race, Democrat Jim Webb picked up a small gain, LATE. In fact, the very last county to report it's results in VA was a primarily Democratic county, which placed Webb in the leading spot. His opponent, incumbent Sen. George Allen, is trailing 50-49% (Webb leads with 1,170,412 vs. Allen's 1,162,293.) Under the current rule in VA, any candidate who loses by less than one percentage point can ask for a recount. There definitely will be here.

In other, already determined races:

Democrat Harold Ford, Jr. lost his bid at the Tennessee Senate seat to Republican Bob Corker, 51-48%. A bright spot in Tennessee is that Democrat Phil Bredesen easily won reelection over GOP challenger Jim Bryson. Ford's loss brings the Senate that much closer to Republican control; on the other hand, it shows that Democrats are gaining a strong foothold in the state.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic challenger Bob Casey beat out current Republican Senator Rick Santorum for his senate seat. Santorum, who is an extremely strong supporter of President Bush, lost 59-41%. Hopefully is has become painstakingly apparent for the soon-to-be ex-Senator that siding with everything the President does does not sit well with Pennsylvanians, along with most of the country.

In Connecticut, Democrat-turned-Independent Joseph Lieberman won reelection over Democratic challenger Ned Lamont & left behind GOP challenger Alan Schlesinger, 50-40-10%, respectively. Those on T.V., which CNN & MSNBC insist on calling "experts" estimated that 1/2 of Democrats & 1/2 of Republicans would vote for Lieberman. I don't know how it broke down, but obviously did something right (I guess running after losing the Democratic nomination would be the first thing.)

Missouri's Senate race came down to the wire, but in the end Claire McCaskill, the Democrat's answer to Republican incumbent Jim Talent, 49-47%.

Ohio & Massachusetts picked up Democratic governors, after having GOP executives in about a decade (leave me a comment if this estimate is wrong.) In Ohio, Democrat Ted Strickland beat GOP J. Kenneth Blackwell 60-37%; Massachusetts Democrat Deval Patrick beat GOP challenger Kerry Healey 56-35%. Of course, the news touted the fact that Patrick was the first black man elected governor of Massachusetts. So what? As long as he's a Democrat, I don't care if he's purple.

To no one's surprise, both of New York's top positions up for grabs went to Democrats. Current Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, easily won the governorship over GOP rival John Faso (69% - 29%.) Governor George Pataki met his term limits and could not run again. As far as the New York Senate race went, the intelligent voters of New York swiftly choose incumbent Democratic Senator (and former FLOTUS) Hillary Clinton, to represent them for the next two, er... I mean six years. Many people think, since Clinton was to easily beat GOP challenger John Spencer (not the late actor) for her second term, that she might be set to run for President in 2008.

She might, and we might get an answer, since she said that she was thinking about the '06 elections first. Well, the '06 elections are over, Mrs. Senator... have you made a decision? Personally, while she's definitely one to watch, I'm also keeping my eye on a certain Hispanic executive in the south-west, or a "skinny kid with a funny name" from the a mid-western state.

Well, if I missed anybody who's an attention-grabber, just turn on a cable news channel, I'm sure they'll be on there. I'm tired, and I'm getting sick of all the squiggly red lines under the names of candidates that Blogger doesn't recognize, so I better stop now.

Keep on eye on Montana & Virginia, they could throw this country, and President Bush, for a loop. And congratulations to California Rep. Nanci Pelosi, who not only won reelection, but picked up the job Speaker of the House. Next time you year the House's Sargent-at-Arms do his "Mr. Speaker" line, it'll be "Mrs. Speaker", and he'll be talking to her. I hope he can get the line straight.

P.S. Projections currently set Democrats having as 33-seat lead over the GOP in the House.

-Adam