SPECIAL EDITION 11/6/14 The document below will provide insights on what the new Senate Majority means, as well as a nationwide view of House, Senate and Gubernatorial election results. We will continue to monitor the remaining races, and begin to build relationships with new members of Congress.
2014 Midterm Election Results November 5, 2014
Republicans Dominate Competitive Races to Win Senate Senate Seats Gained/Held in the 2014 Midterm Elections Democratic Gain Democratic Hold Republican Gain Republican Hold Independent Gain Undecided/Runoff No Election May take until November 18 to count all votes WA OR NV CA ID UT AZ MT WY CO NM ND SD NE KS OK MN IA MO AR WI IL IN MI TN KY OH WV SC PA VA NC NY VT ME NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD MS AL GA HI TX LA Runoff election will be held on December 6, 2014 FL Democrats: 44 Republicans: 52 Independents: 2 Undecided: 2 Republicans won most of 2014 s competitive Senate races, taking seats in Colorado, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, and unexpectedly North Carolina Republicans also won special elections this year in Oklahoma and South Carolina Louisiana will hold a December 6, 2014 runoff election, and Alaska could take until November 18, 2014 to count all remaining ballots, but Republicans have already secured enough seats to control the Senate regardless of these outcomes Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.
Republicans Win Solid Majority in Senate Control of the 113 th Senate (2012-2014) Control of the 114 th Senate (2014-2016) Democratic Republican Independent Undecided 2 2 53 45 44 52 Total Seats Democrats: 53 Republicans: 45 Independents: 2 Total Seats Democrats: 44 Republicans: 52 Independents: 2 Undecided: 2 Having won most of this year s competitive races, Republicans secured at least 52 Senate seats on election night, flipping the Senate from blue to red Additional GOP wins in Louisiana and Alaska are still possible If Republicans eventually expand their majority to 54 seats, they will have an easier time passing legislation in the Senate because they will need fewer Democratic defections to overcome filibusters (which require a 60 vote supermajority) Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.
Republicans Win Solid Majority in Senate Control of the 114 th Senate (2015-2017) 2 Democrats 2 Republicans 1 Democrat + 1 Republican 1 Democrat + 1 Independent 1 Republican + 1 Independent Undecided/Runoff May take until Nov. 18th to count all votes WA OR NV CA ID UT AZ MT WY CO NM ND SD NE KS OK MN IA MO AR WI IL IN MI TN KY OH WV SC PA VA NC NY VT ME NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD MS AL GA HI TX LA Runoff election will be held on December 6, 2014 FL Democrats: 44 Republicans: 52 Independents: 1 Undecided: 2 Having won most of this year s competitive races, Republicans secured at least 52 Senate seats on election night, flipping the Senate from blue to red Additional GOP wins in Louisiana and Alaska are still possible If Republicans eventually expand their majority to 54 seats, they will have an easier time passing legislation in the Senate because they will need fewer Democratic defections to overcome filibusters (which require a 60 vote supermajority) Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.
What is a Majority Worth? Implications of GOP s Senate Seat Pickups Most Likely Scenario: GOP Takes Majority by 2-4 Seats 113th Democratic Seats 113th Republican Seats R+5: GOP Achieves Even Numbers The 50-50 Senate can remain under Democratic control on many partisan issues owing to Vice President Biden s tie-breaking vote As of election night, Republicans gained seven seats to take control of the Senate With ballots in Alaska still being counted and a Louisiana runoff race scheduled for December, it s possible Republicans could have a 54-seat majority in the Senate R+6: GOP Takes Control GOP can control the agenda, pass legislation, invoke reconciliation, and vote on nominations under the new rules R +7 to +12: GOP Solidifies Majority Benefits Incremental votes can offset some challenges to bloc voting moderated stances and/or absences related to 2016 campaigning R+13: GOP Majority for Next Cycle Seven GOP senators up for election in 2016 hail from states won by Obama in 2012; majority of more than seven in 2014 could secure GOP Senate control for another cycle R+15: GOP Averts Filibuster Sufficient GOP votes to achieve cloture on legislation and Supreme Court nominations R+22: GOP Plays by Two-Thirds-Majority Rules Sufficient GOP votes to override a Presidential veto and change rules mid-session GOP Loss of 6-9 Votes Negates Majority On some issues, both disagreement within the caucus and 2016 campaign interests likely to prevent party line votes 113th Democratic Seats 113th Republican Seats Source: National Journal Research, 2014.
Republicans Win Record Majority in House Control of the 113 th House (2012-2014) Democratic Republican Vacant Undecided* 199 233 Control of the 114 th House (2014-2016) 17 175 243 Total Seats Democrats: 199 Republicans: 233 Vacancies: 3 Total Seats Democrats: 175 Republicans: 243 Undecided: 17 Republicans won a total of at least 243 seats in the House, their largest majority since 1928 An expanded GOP majority in the House means that Speaker Boehner will have an easier time passing legislation in the House without Democratic support, and Republicans will also have an easier time holding on to their majority in future elections * Races not called as of 6am 11/5/2014; includes runoff elections to be held in LA-5 and LA-6 Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center, November 2014.
Republicans Win Record Majority in House Democratic Republican Undecided* Control of the 114 th House (2015-2017) Democrats: 175 Republicans: 243 Independents: 0 Undecided: 17 Republicans won a total of at least 243 seats in the House, their largest majority since 1928 An expanded GOP majority in the House means that Speaker Boehner will have an easier time passing legislation in the House without Democratic support, and Republicans will also have an easier time holding on to their majority in future elections * Races not called as of 6am 11/5/2014; includes runoff elections to be held in LA-5 and LA-6 Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; The New York Times.
Republicans Extend Gubernatorial Advantage Map of State Governors by Party Dem Governor GOP Governor Undecided* CA OR WA NV ID AZ UT MT WY CO NM ND SD NE KS OK MN IA MO AR TX LA Democrats: 15 FL Republicans: 31 Independents: 0 HI Undecided: 3 WI IL MS IN MI TN AL KY OH GA WV SC PA VA NC NY VT ME NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD *Race not called as of 6 AM 11/5 While Republicans already controlled most governors mansions prior to 2014 elections, gains in Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut added to the GOP s sizeable majority of governorships Legislative activity at the state level has taken on increased importance in recent years due to gridlock at the federal level; as such, increased GOP control of governorships nationwide could give Republicans additional leverage to achieve policy goals at the state level Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.