Historical Perspective: 2006 was a Realigning Election

[JCMach1]

Similar in scope to 1994.

Dems will hold the leadership in House and Senate, with a swing in excess of 30+ seats.

Dems hold the majority of Governorships.

Numerous State Houses Flipped


The West and Midwest have shifted Very Strongly to Blue. The Democratic party has a Conservative wing again (for better or worse). That type of triangulation spelled success in the Deep Red South in places like VA, FL, and to a certain extent TN. Also, we gained a number of seats in Congress on the Same formula in the South.

Should be an interesting marriage... the victory was won by an odd-couple coalition of Progressives and Fiscal Conservatives (GO FIGURE!)

[bobbieinok]

1. and 1974??? democrats won BIG then

IA's Harkin lost in his 1st House run in 72 but won in 74. He has been teased ever since b/c his wife won Story County DA in 72 and he lost. (My son was 3 in 72; he 'worked' for Harkin in 72 and 74 at the Story Co democratic headquarters....picking up pins etc from the floor in 72 and aligning papers in 74.)

Big midterm congressional shifts: 1974, 1994, 2006.

[JCMach1]

2. '74 is close in comparison... Vietnam/Watergate

Shift