On Tuesday Nov. 2, voters nationwide cast their ballots in the midterm elections, changing the balance of power in Washington and delivering control of the House of Representatives to the Republican Party.
As of Wednesday, Republicans have won at least 60 seats in the House of Representatives, bringing them a majority with at least 239 seats. 11 seats are currently too close to call. 40 seats won by Republicans were backed by the Tea Party movement which came into political prominence last year.
Republican minority leader John Boehner, who represents Ohio’s 8th district, is widely presumed to become the next Speaker of the House. In his victory speech Tuesday night, he said, “Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and go to work. We can celebrate when small businesses are creating jobs again.”
However, the Democratic Party held onto control of the Senate with at least 52 seats. Tea Party-backed candidates were able to win five Senate races, including Rand Paul of Kentucky, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, and Jim DeMint of South Carolina. However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid withstood a challenge from Tea Party-backed candidate Sharron Angle.
President Barack Obama addressed the results of Tuesday’s election in a press conference, taking responsibility for what is perceived as a referendum against his administration’s policies.
“Over the last two years, we've made progress. But clearly, too many Americans haven't felt that progress yet, and they told us that yesterday. And as president, I take responsibility for that,” he said. He later added that, “we were in such a hurry to get things done, that we didn't change how things got done.”
In New York State, both Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand easily won their respective elections with more than 60% of the vote for both. In New York’s 26th District, which includes Geneseo, Republican Christopher Lee was re-elected handily with 74% of the vote.
New York will send at least five new Republican representatives to Congress, with a sixth pending election results in 25th District, which is currently too close to call. New York formerly had only two Republican representatives.
State-wide, Democrats were able to retain control of Albany. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of the Democratic party handily won election to the Governor’s office with more than 61% of the vote. He defeated Buffalo developer and Tea Party-backed candidate Carl Paladino, who took 34% of the vote.
“The people have spoken tonight, and they have been loud and clear,” said Cuomo in his victory speech Tuesday night, declaring his victory as a mandate to clean up Albany. “The people want a government of competence and performance and integrity, a government that manages its finances, and can balance a budget and can balance a budget just the way they have to balance their budget at home.”
Cuomo’s running mate, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy, will become the next Lieutenant Governor of New York. Democratic candidates Eric Schneiderman and Thomas DiNapoli won close contests for Attorney General and State Comptroller, respectively.
The final results for New York’s State Senate are still to be determined. It is unclear where the balance of power will lie and there is potentially a 31-31 split, pending results from three State Senate races still too close to call. In New York’s 59th State Senate District, which includes Geneseo, Republican candidate Patrick Gallivan won with 59% of the vote over Democrat Cynthia Appleton’s 31%, with 94% of precincts reporting.
Democrats maintained control of the State Assembly. New York’s 147th Assembly District, which includes Geneseo, re-elected Republican Daniel Burling, who ran unopposed.