United States House of Representatives elections, 1998

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width="" colspan=4 style="text-align: center" | Results:
Democratic hold
Democratic pickup
Republican hold
Republican pickup
Independent hold
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The U.S. House elections in 1998 were part of the midterm elections held during President Bill Clinton's second term. They were a major disappointment to the Republican Party, which was expecting to gain seats due to the embarrassment Clinton suffered during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and the "six-year itch" effect observed in most second-term midterm elections. Instead, the GOP lost five seats to the Democratic Party, but retained a narrow majority in the House. A wave of Republican discontent with Speaker Newt Gingrich prompted him to resign shortly after the election.
The campaign was marked by Republican attacks on the morality of President Clinton, with Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr having released his report on the Lewinsky scandal and House leaders having initiated an inquiry into whether impeachable offenses had occurred. However, exit polls indicated that most voters opposed impeaching Clinton, and predictions of high Republican or low Democratic turnout due to the scandal failed to materialize.[1] Some speculate that the losses reflected a backlash against the Republicans for attacking the popular Clinton. With the GOP having lost 5 House seats and failing to gain any seats in the Senate, it was the first time since 1934 that the non-presidential party failed to gain congressional seats in a mid-term election. It was also the first time since 1822 that the non-presidential party had failed to gain seats in the mid-term election of a President's second term. In addition, the resulting balance of seats, 223 to 211, was the slimmest majority held by either party since 1952.
Seats picked up by the Democrats included Kansas's 3rd district, Nevada's 1st district, Pennsylvania's 13th district, New Mexico's 3rd district, New Jersey's 12th district, Kentucky's 4th district, Mississippi's 4th district, California's 1st district, Wisconsin's 2nd district, Washington's 1st district, and Washington's 3rd district. The Republicans, however, picked up seats in Kentucky's 6th district, Wisconsin's 8th district, California's 3rd district, California's 36th district, Pennsylvania's 15th district, and North Carolina's 8th district.
Overall results
↓
223
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1
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211
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Republican
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I
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Democratic
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Party
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Seats
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Seat percentage
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Vote percentage
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Popular vote
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1996
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Elected
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Net Change
|
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Republican Party
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228
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223
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5
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51.3%
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48.4%
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32,237,964
|
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Democratic Party
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206
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211
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5
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48.5%
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47.3%
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31,490,298
|
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Libertarian Party
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0
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0
|
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0.0%
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1.3%
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880,024
|
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Independent
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1
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1
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0.2%
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0.6%
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372,072
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Other parties
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0
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0
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0.0%
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2.4%
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1,624,714
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Totals
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435
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435
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100.0%
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100.0%
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66,604,802
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Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
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Popular vote |
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|
| |
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Republican |
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48.40% |
Democratic |
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47.28% |
Libertarian |
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1.32% |
Others |
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3.00% |
House seats |
|
|
| |
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Republican |
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51.26% |
Democratic |
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48.51% |
Others |
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0.23% |
Incumbents retiring
Democrats
- California's 3rd congressional district: Vic Fazio
- California's 34th congressional district: Esteban Edward Torres
- California's 36th congressional district: Jane Harman: To run for Governor
- Colorado's 2nd congressional district: David Skaggs
- Connecticut's 1st congressional district: Barbara Kennelly: To run for Governor
- Illinois's 9th congressional district: Sidney Yates
- Illinois's 19th congressional district: Glenn Poshard: To run for Governor
- Indiana's 9th congressional district: Lee H. Hamilton
- Kentucky's 6th congressional district: Scotty Baesler: To run for U.S. Senate
- Massachusetts's 8th congressional district: Joseph P. Kennedy II
- New York's 7th congressional district: Thomas J. Manton
- New York's 9th congressional district: Charles Schumer: To run for U.S. Senate
- North Carolina's 8th congressional district: Bill Hefner
- Ohio's 11th congressional district: Louis Stokes
- Oregon's 1st congressional district: Elizabeth Furse
- Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district: Paul McHale
- Texas's 20th congressional district: Henry Gonzalez
Republicans
- California's 1st congressional district: Frank Riggs: To run for U.S. Senate
- Colorado's 6th congressional district: Daniel Schaefer
- Idaho's 2nd congressional district: Mike Crapo: To run for U.S. Senate
- Illinois's 13th congressional district: Harris Fawell
- Kentucky's 4th congressional district: Jim Bunning: To run for U.S. Senate
- Mississippi's 4th congressional district: Mike Parker: To run for Governor
- Nebraska's 2nd congressional district: Jon L. Christensen: To run for Governor
- Nevada's 1st congressional district: John Ensign: To run for U.S. Senate
- New York's 22nd congressional district: Gerald B.H. Solomon
- New York's 27th congressional district: Bill Paxon
- Oregon's 2nd congressional district: Robert Freeman Smith
- Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district: Joe McDade
- South Carolina's 4th congressional district: Bob Inglis: To run for U.S. Senate
- Washington's 3rd congressional district: Linda Smith: To run for U.S. Senate
- Wisconsin's 1st congressional district: Mark Neumann: To run for U.S. Senate
- Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district: Scott Klug
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections
Republicans who lost to a Republican challenger
- California's 41st congressional district: Jay Kim, lost to Gary Miller who later won the general election
In the general election
Democrats who lost to a Republican challenger
- Wisconsin's 8th congressional district: Jay W. Johnson, lost to Mark Green
Republicans who lost to a Democratic challenger
- Kansas's 3rd congressional district: Vince Snowbarger, lost to Dennis Moore
- New Jersey's 12th congressional district: Mike Pappas, lost to Rush D. Holt, Jr.
- New Mexico's 3rd congressional district: Bill Redmond, lost to Tom Udall
- Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district: Jon D. Fox, lost to Joe Hoeffel
- Washington's 1st congressional district: Rick White, lost to Jay Inslee
Separate elections
Five special elections were held apart from those in November. The elected winners would serve the remainder of the incumbent Congress and face re-election in November.
Date
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District
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Reason & Result
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Candidates
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February 3, 1998
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New York 6
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Floyd Flake (D) resigned November 17, 1997 to work at his church full-time Democratic hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Gregory W. Meeks (D) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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March 10, 1998
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California 22
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Walter Capps (D) died October 28, 1997 Democratic hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Lois Capps (D) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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April 7, 1998
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California 9
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Ron Dellums (D) resigned February 6, 1998 Democratic hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Barbara Lee (D) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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April 7, 1998
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California 44
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Sonny Bono (R) died January 5, 1998 Republican hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Mary Bono (R) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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May 19, 1998
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Pennsylvania 1
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Thomas M. Foglietta (D) resigned November 11, 1997 to become U.S. Ambassador to Italy Democratic hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Bob Brady (D) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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June 23, 1998
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New Mexico 1
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Steven Schiff (R) died March 25, 1998 Republican hold Winner was subsequently re-elected in November
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Heather Wilson (R) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
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November elections
Key to party abbreviations: AI=American Independent, C=Constitution, D=Democratic, G=Green, I=Independent, IP=Independence Party, L=Libertarian, R=Republican, T=U.S. Taxpayers Party, SW=Socialist Workers Party, Ref=Reform Party PF=Peace and Freedom, NL=Natural Law Party
Alabama
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 1998
Alaska
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 1998
Arizona
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 1998
Arkansas
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas, 1998
California
Colorado
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 1998
Connecticut
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 1998
Delaware
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Delaware, 1998
Florida
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 1998
Georgia
Hawaii
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii, 1998
Idaho
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho, 1998
Illinois
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 1998
Indiana
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 1998
Iowa
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 1998
Kansas
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas, 1998
Kentucky
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 1998
Louisiana
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 1998
Maine
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 1998
Maryland
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 1998
Massachusetts
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 1998
Michigan
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 1998
Minnesota
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 1998
Mississippi
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 1998
Missouri
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 1998
Montana
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Montana, 1998
Nebraska
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 1998
Nevada
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 1998
New Hampshire
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 1998
New Jersey
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 1998
New Mexico
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 1998
New York
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1998
North Carolina
North Dakota
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 1998
Ohio
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 1998
Oklahoma
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, 1998
Oregon
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 1998
Pennsylvania
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 1998
Rhode Island
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, 1998
South Carolina
South Dakota
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota, 1998
Tennessee
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 1998
Texas
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 1998
Utah
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 1998
Vermont
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Vermont, 1998
Virginia
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 1998
Washington
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 1998
West Virginia
Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 1998
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming, 1998
References
- Wattenberg; Martin P. "The Democrats' Decline in the House during the Clinton Presidency: An Analysis of Partisan Swings" Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 29, 1999
External links
See also
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| States generally |
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