As in Minnesota, national Republicans scored a major victory by
reclaiming majority status in the U.S. House of Representatives. In
the U.S. Senate, Democrats retained their majority status, but the
margin has narrowed to only a couple of seats. These combined
changes ensure that President Barack Obama will have a more
difficult time advancing his agenda than was the case in the last
two years.
In Minnesota, all but one congressional incumbent was re-elected;
notably, long-time congressional Democrat Jim Oberstar (Duluth) was
defeated by newcomer Chip Cravaack, a retired military veteran.
Oberstar had served in the House for 36 years and was most recently
chair of a powerful transportation funding committee. Nonetheless,
the anti-incumbent winds blew strongly in his district, aided by a
perception that he was detached from local voters and their
concerns about the economy.
Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio) appears likely to be the new
Speaker of the House; while Senator Harry Reid withstood an
election challenge in Nevada, it is unclear whether he will remain
as leader of his majority caucus. Some of his colleagues may feel
that it is necessary (even essential) to have a new majority leader
to counter the strong personality of John Boehner. Leadership
elections for the U.S. House and Senate will take place later this
week.
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