What "revolution" is credited with the Republican sweep of congressional elections and statehouses in the 1990s?
1 Answer
The Republican Revolution
Explanation:
The Republican Revolution took place in 1994, 2 years after Democrat Bill Clinton took office. Its tradition that the party in power loses congressional seats in the midterm elections, the only time that didn't happen was in 2002 when Bush's approval rating was in the 80's. The Republican Revolution was that but it was bolstered due to discontent with the Democratic Party. Republican claimed Clinton wasn't the "New Democrat" he claimed to be and Republicans created a new platform to run on in elections called "The Contract with America." Led by Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich (who would soon become speaker of the House), a wave of Republicans were elected both at the federal level, state level, and local level.
The Republicans got a pickup 54 seats in the House of Reps., 8 seats in the Senate, 12 governorships, 472 legislative seats which resulted in taking control of more than 20 state legislatures, and a swarth of mayoral and city council races. The Republican took control of seats that they hadn't had since the 1900's-1960's. This type of huge gains in seats wouldn't be seen again till the Democratic wave in 2006-2008.
While the Democrats managed to capture a few seats in the following elections, they didn't take control of the House of Reps. till the Dem. wave in 2006.
Here are the results of the 1992 elections
Image Source: Wikipedia
This is the map of the Republican Revolution (1994 midterm elections)
Image Source: Wikipedia
