2006 United States House of Representatives elections

2006 United States House of Representatives elections
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Election name	2006 United States House of Representatives elections
Country	United States
Type	legislative
Previous election	2004 United States House of Representatives elections
Previous year	2004
Next election	2008 United States House of Representatives elections
Next year	2008
Seats for election	All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives
Majority seats	218
Election date	November 7, 2006
Leader1	Nancy Pelosi
Party1	Democratic Party (United States)
Leaders seat1	California's 8th congressional district
Last election1	202 seats
Seats1	233
Seat change1	▲ 31
Popular vote1	42,082,311
Percentage1	52.0%
Swing	▲ 5.4%
Leader2	John Boehner
Party2	Republican Party (United States)
Leaders seat2	Ohio's 8th congressional district
Last election2	232 seats
Seats2	202
Seat change2	▼ 30
Popular vote2	35,674,808
Percentage2	44.3%
Swing	▼ 5.1%
Title	Speaker
Before election	Dennis Hastert
Before party	Republican Party (United States)
After election	Nancy Pelosi
After party	Democratic Party (United States)

2006 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 2006, for all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives. The elections resulted in a decisive victory for the Democratic Party, which gained 31 seats to secure a majority and end twelve years of Republican control. This outcome was widely interpreted as a repudiation of the Bush administration and the Republican-led Congress. The victory elevated Nancy Pelosi of California to become the first female Speaker of the House.

Background

The political climate leading to the midterm elections was heavily influenced by public dissatisfaction with the Iraq War and the handling of its aftermath, including events like the Battle of Fallujah. Scandals such as those involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Duke Cunningham eroded confidence in the Republican majority. Furthermore, the perceived poor federal response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans damaged the popularity of President George W. Bush. The Democratic Party, led by figures like Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, capitalized on this environment by recruiting moderate candidates in traditionally Republican districts.

Election results

The Democratic Party won 233 seats, while the Republican Party won 202. This represented a net gain of 31 seats for Democrats and gave them control of the House for the 110th Congress. Notable gains occurred across the country, including in Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and Arizona. The national popular vote for Democratic candidates was approximately 52%, compared to 44.3% for Republican candidates. Key victories included the defeat of several high-profile Republican incumbents, such as Nancy Johnson in Connecticut and Richard Pombo in California.

Key races

Several highly competitive contests defined the election landscape. In Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district, Chris Carney unseated scandal-tainted incumbent Don Sherwood. In Indiana's 9th congressional district, Baron Hill reclaimed a seat he had lost in 2004. The open seat in Arizona's 8th congressional district saw Gabrielle Giffords win a tight race against Randy Graf. In New Hampshire, Carol Shea-Porter achieved a major upset by defeating incumbent Jeb Bradley in the 1st district. The race in Connecticut's 5th congressional district was also pivotal, with Chris Murphy defeating longtime incumbent Nancy Johnson.

Issues and campaign themes

The dominant issue of the campaign was the Iraq War, with many Democratic candidates criticizing the administration's strategy and calling for a change in direction. Corruption and Republican ethical scandals, often tied to K Street lobbyists, were a central theme, amplified by the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal. Economic concerns, including the rising cost of healthcare and Medicare Part D, also played a significant role. The Democratic campaign, under the guidance of Rahm Emanuel, effectively nationalized the election around these themes, using a unified message often summarized as "A New Direction for America."

Aftermath and impact

The results marked a major political realignment, with Nancy Pelosi elected as Speaker and John Boehner becoming the Minority Leader. The new Democratic majority immediately pursued a legislative agenda known as the "First 100 Hours", which included raising the minimum wage and implementing recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. The shift in power significantly constrained the Bush administration's agenda during its final two years and set the stage for the 2008 presidential election. The election also saw an increase in the number of women and minorities in the House, including the first Buddhist member, Hank Johnson of Georgia.

Category:2006 United States House of Representatives elections Category:2006 elections in the United States