2008 Woodie Awards
A bold new majority
1 democratic president, 57 democratic senate seats, 256 democratic house seats
William Allison
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
There will be a dramatic shift in power in Washington when a new President and Congress assume power in January, marking the return of a Democratic Party that had been in the minority for most of the decade.
The election of Barack Obama sees the Democrats control the presidency for the first time since 2000 and only their fourth victory in the past 11 elections.
It is also the first time a Democrat has won the office with such a large majority since Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory in 1964.
The 2006 mid-term elections saw the Democrats retake Congress for the first time since 1994, and they increased their numbers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to put themselves in an even more powerful position.
Previously, the Democrats held a slim lead in the Senate with 51 seats but Election Day saw them take six seats from the Republicans to increase their lead to 57. There are still three races yet to be decided that could possibly give them a filibuster-proof majority of 60.
The new Independent senators caucus with the Democrats as well, which would give the party their largest Senate majority since the late 1970s.
In the House, the Democrats picked up 20 seats and increased their majority to 256-175, picking up 24 seats that were previously held by Republicans with another four races yet to be decided.
One of the biggest post-election questions is how this new majority will lead as the Democrats find themselves in a position they haven't enjoyed in over a decade.
Sara Humm, sophomore and Ottawa city commissioner, thinks that the new government will take pretty dramatic steps in the beginning but will not drift too far from the center.
"At first it might be kind of extreme, but for the most part it will be pretty moderate because most people are moderate. They can't be too liberal so they will keep that kind of balance in the center," Humm said.
Senior business major Hallie Adrian also believes there will changes in policy but it won't be a permament power.
The election of Barack Obama sees the Democrats control the presidency for the first time since 2000 and only their fourth victory in the past 11 elections.
It is also the first time a Democrat has won the office with such a large majority since Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory in 1964.
The 2006 mid-term elections saw the Democrats retake Congress for the first time since 1994, and they increased their numbers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to put themselves in an even more powerful position.
Previously, the Democrats held a slim lead in the Senate with 51 seats but Election Day saw them take six seats from the Republicans to increase their lead to 57. There are still three races yet to be decided that could possibly give them a filibuster-proof majority of 60.
The new Independent senators caucus with the Democrats as well, which would give the party their largest Senate majority since the late 1970s.
In the House, the Democrats picked up 20 seats and increased their majority to 256-175, picking up 24 seats that were previously held by Republicans with another four races yet to be decided.
One of the biggest post-election questions is how this new majority will lead as the Democrats find themselves in a position they haven't enjoyed in over a decade.
Sara Humm, sophomore and Ottawa city commissioner, thinks that the new government will take pretty dramatic steps in the beginning but will not drift too far from the center.
"At first it might be kind of extreme, but for the most part it will be pretty moderate because most people are moderate. They can't be too liberal so they will keep that kind of balance in the center," Humm said.
Senior business major Hallie Adrian also believes there will changes in policy but it won't be a permament power.
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