|
Democrats seek big gains
05/11/2006 10:03 - (SA)
Washington - Democrats are hoping that the November 7 midterm elections will put an end to 12 years of control of Congress by President George W Bush's Republican Party.
Republicans have controlled the US House for all of that time and the Senate for most of it.
All 435 seats in the US House, 33 US Senate seats and 36 governorships, as well as numerous mayoral and local positions, will be in play on November 7.
Democrats need a net gain of 15 seats to regain control of the House and a six-seat gain to take over the Senate.
Bush's Republican Party controls 231 of the 435 seats in the House, while Democrats control 201. One seat is held by an independent who generally votes with Democrats, and two House seats are currently vacant.
In the 100-seat Senate, Republicans have 55 seats, Democrats hold 44, and one seat is held by an independent who usually votes with Democrats. Democrats are defending 18 Senate seats and Republicans are defending 15.
A Democratic takeover is a more doubtful proposition in the Senate than in the House, with leading pundits saying the opposition party has a 50/50 chance of taking control of the chamber.
Taking over the majority in either chamber would take a massive victory, however, one rivaling the storied 1994 Republican revolution led by insurgent Republican Representative Newt Gingrich, who later became House speaker.
There are also 36 governorships at stake on November 7, with Democrats defending 14 slots and Republicans defending 22.
- SAPA
|
News
