WASHINGTON, 4 November 2004 — The power of incumbency and an advantageous GOP redistricting in Texas swept Republicans to another two years of control over the House of Representatives.
Virtually all sitting representatives in the 435-member House won re-election, leaving Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay and their GOP majority firmly in charge.
Republicans were poised to add a few seats as they embark on another term of House control — the first time the party has achieved 12 consecutive years in power in the chamber since the dozen years that ended in January 1933.
“The American people have spoken and their message is that they want Republican leadership in the House of Representatives to continue,” Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., head of the House GOP campaign organization, said yesterday.
DeLay, whose push for redistricting in Texas helped the GOP knock off four veteran Texas Democrats, also saw the elections as an affirmation of Republican leadership.
“The American people have spoken tonight, and all indications are that they have hired a Republican House of Representatives for the sixth straight election,” DeLay said late Tuesday.
Republicans also gained seats in the Senate, keeping Congress under party control. But Democrats will retain enough votes there to make it hard for Republicans to push through their programs.
In the House, Democrats knocked off one Republican incumbent — Rep. Philip M. Crane of Illinois, the party’s longest-serving member — but came nowhere close to taking the 12 seats they needed to win back control.
By yesterday morning, Republicans had won 229 seats and were leading in four other races, which could give them at least 233 seats. Democrats had won 200 seats and led in one other contest.
Republicans hold a 227-205 advantage over Democrats in the outgoing House, plus two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans who have retired and one independent who sides with Democrats. A minimum of 218 seats are needed for House control.
Nearly all incumbents sailed to re-election, including former presidential hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. Also returned for a second term was Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., who was secretary of state during the pivotal presidential recount in the Sunshine State four years ago. Besides Hastert and DeLay, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and No. 2 Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland all won re-election.
