In the 2010 Elections for the U.S. Senate and
the U.S. House of Representatives, collectively known as
the 2010 Congressional Elections, the Republican (GOP)
Party is attempting to revive itself after the Democratic
victories in 2008. For the Democrats, this election will
likely result in a loss of seats in both the House and
the Senate. Historically, the "President's Party," in
this case the Democrats, usually lose seats in what are
called "off-year" elections. 2010 is an off-year
election. Added to the usual disenchantment voters feel
towards the President's party in off-year elections, is
the added vigor the Republicans and their conservative
base feel as they gear up for this year's elections.
Part of the conservative anger toward President Obama
and the Democrats were seen throughout the summer of 2009
in the so-called "Tea Party" rallies held across the
country. These rallies and the town hall meetings many
members of Congress held as part of the 2009 Health Care
Debate became loud and raucous expressions of
conservative anger at the Obama
Administration and the Democrats in Congress.
Dino
Rossi Inches Closer to Challenging Patty Murray in
Washington State
In a speech on May 21, 2010, Republican Dino Rossi
spoke of policy and politics, but came just short of
saying he will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator
Patty Murray, who is up for re-election this November.
Speculation has centered around Rossi, who has valuable
state-wide name recognition and respect among
conservative voters after two failed, but close,
campaigns against Washington Governor Christine
Gregoire. Other Republicans have softly criticized
Rossi, saying he must make up his mind soon, since many
funding and endorsement decisions stakeholders are
awaiting news as to whether or not Rossi is indeed in the
race. Already declared Republican candidates include
businessman Paul Akers, ex-NFL football player Clint
Didier and state Sen. Don Benton.
The
"Kennedy Seat" in Massachusetts
An early preview of the November election is the
Special Election in Massachusetts on January 19, 2010 to
replace the late Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy, who passed
away on August 25, 2009. In a state that has not elected
a Republican U.S. Senator since 1972 (when Republican
Edward Brooke won office), and for a Senate Seat once
held by two members of the famously Democratic Kennedy
family. Also, Massachusetts holds a strong liberal
Democratic reputation to the point that while campaigning
in 2004, President George W. Bush would often deride
Massachusetts as the home of Senator Kerry. To
conservative voters, those were almost fighting
words.
The candidates for this open Senate seat are Democrat
Martha Coakley (the incumbent Attorney
General in Massachusetts) and Republican State Senator
Scott Brown.
As of January 14, 2010, several veteran polling
experts all characterized this Senate race as dead even.
Given the strong liberal constituency that the late
Senator Kennedy enjoyed in his career, the news that a
Republican candidate is so close to capturing that Senate
seat is a potentially significant blow to President
Obama. If the Republicans capture "The Kennedy Seat",
Republicans nationwide will be energized for the November
elections. On a more immediate level, President Obama's
Health Care Reform efforts will be greatly endangered if
the Democrats lose their 60-seat supermajority in the
Senate.
As election day drew closer, both parties brought out
their big guns to campaign for the candidates. On January
15, 2010, former President Bill Clinton campaigned for
Democrat Coakley in Worcester, while former New York City
Mayor Rudy Giuliani campaigned for Brown in Boston.
President Barack Obama appeared to campaign for Coakley
on January 17, 2010.
On January 19, 2010, Massachusetts voters elected
Republican Scott Brown to take the Senate seat held by
Ted Kennedy for 47 years in a major upset that set the
tone for the upcoming November elections. Brown took 52%
of the vote, while Coakley won only 47% of the vote. High
turnout in suburban districts with larger numbers of
independent voters who voted for Brown helped push him
toward the win.
Beau
Biden Bows Out of Delaware Race to Fill His Father's
Senate Seat
In late January, 2010, Beau
Biden sent shockwaves through Delaware politics, and
struck another body blow to the Democratic Party's
attempts to retain control of the Senate in the 2010
Congressional Elections when he announce that
he would not run
for his father's old Senate Seat.
A total of 37 Senate seats are up for election in
2010. Several significant Senate races include the
elections to replace several retiring Senators. These
elections include races to replace the following
lawmakers:
Christopher Dodd (D) of Connecticut
Ted Kaufman (D) of Delaware
Roland Burris (D) of Illinois --Burris is
the controversial appointee who was appointed to
replace Barack Obama after the 2008 election
Paul Kirk (D) of Massachusetts -Kirk is an
interim appointment who promised to not run in the
special election to fill the "Kennedy Seat."
Byron Dorgan (D) of North Dakota
George LeMieux (R) of Florida
Sam Brownback (R) of Kansas
Jim Bunning (R) of Kentucky
Kit Bond (R) of Missouri
Judd Gregg (R) of New Hampshire
George Voinovich (R) of Ohio
Links and
Resources:
Rossi
at Senate Starting Gate: Will He?--by Joel Connely,
Seattle P-I, May 21, 2010
Kennedyseat.com
Scott Brown
Campaign website
Martha Coakley
Campaign website
Ten
reasons why the Massachusetts Senate race is very, very
important--San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 17, 2010
2010
as 1994? Relax, Democrats--LA Times, Jan. 18,
2010
Massachusetts
Senate race: Democratic big guns join the
fight-Christian Science Monitor, Jan. 15, 2010
Six
factors to watch for Tuesday's election--Boston
Globe
Congressional
elections, 2010 - On Politics - Breaking News --USA
Today
U.S.
congressional elections in 2010 - SourceWatch.org
RealClearPolitics
- Red Dawn: GOP Revival For 2010
House?--RealClearPolitics.com
Biden’s
seat kept warm --TheHill.com, Nov. 24, 2008
Ted
Kaufman to succeed Biden in Senate--Politico, Nov.
24, 2008
