Alright, since you guys proved to be super-geniuses the last time we posed a trivia question, let’s try another – or two, actually:
How many Democratic incumbents who lost in 1994 attempted comebacks in 1996? And how many won?
With news that defeated incumbents like Jeb Bradley (NH-01) and Jim Ryun (KS-02) will seek rematches in 2008, this topic is obviously an important one right now.
Ted Strickland (Ohio) and David Price (North Carolina).
I’m sure that someone like CMBurns will emerge to fill in the blanks–and then some.
However, both of those one term incumbents were real wingnuts. I mean, Heiniman said that somebody making $175,000 was lower middle class.
Cremeans was also a nut. He said that homosexuals were to blame for AIDS and his biggest priority seemed to be to get a big cross put up in a local park. Still, he only lost by a hair.
The aforementioned Ted Strickland, now Governor of Ohio, and Rep. David Price are the only Congressmen defeated in 1994 who won in 1996.
Here’s what the future held for some of the 34 incumbents who lost in 1994:
Jay Inslee: In 1998, he carpetbagged to a Seattle area district and beat right-wing Rep. Rick White. Inslee is leader in Congress on renewable energy issues.
Two years ago, Former Rep. Eric Fingerhut ran against Senator Voinovich and lost by by over 20%
Dick “Please don’t make fun of my surname or my first name” Swett’s wife ran for Congress and lost by 17% to Charlie Bass.
Jill Long ran in a gerrymandered district agains Chris Chocola and lost in the tough political year that was 2002.
Larry LaRocco led the Democratic resurgence in Idaho, but like Grant and Brady, he lost by a close margin.
They made the same mistake in Maine that night when they called Joe Brennan over Susan Collins.
As in, Joe Donnelly ran twice in IN-02, Diane Farrell twice, Lois Murphy twice, Jerry McNerney twice, Patty Wetterling twice, etc.
It would be interesting to see the success/failure rate and speculate on what makes the difference.
Especially because we’re gonna have Darcy Burner, Larry Kissell, Dan Seals, Tessa Hafen, Nancy Skinner, Linda Stender, Christine Jennings, Eric Massa, Dan Maffei, Gary Trauner, and probably others on the menu in 2008.
On second thought, there may be too many of these to do a trivia question.
Strickland(OH-6) and Price(NC-4) won their old House Seats. Strickland is now Governor of Ohio. In Washington state. two incumbents who lost in 1994- Maria Cantwell(WA)- was elected the the US Senate in 2000 defeating Slade Gorton. and Jay Inslee was elected to the other US House District in Washington State- he unseated Rick White in 1998 who defeated Cantwell in 1994. The other Washington State Democratic House member who lost in 1994- Mike Kriedler- was elected State Insurance Commisioner in 2000.
Lynn Shenk(CA)- made an unsucessful run for Attorney General- lost in the 1998 Democratic Primary
Buddy Darden(GA)- lost in the 2002 Democratic Primary when he made a run at the newly drawn 11th Congressional District.
Larry LoRocco(ID)- lost the 2006 Lt Governors Race.
Jill Long Thompson(IN)- lost in 2002 IN-2nd CD House Race to now ex Rep Chris Chocola
Tom Barlow(KY) has made 4 unsucessful runs for the US Senate and his old House seat.
Dick Swett(NH) narrowly lost the 1996 NH US Senate Race
Eric Fingerhut(OH) was elected to the Ohio State Senate- recently lost the 2004 US Senate Race to George Voinovich
Leslie Byrne(VA)- was elected to the Virginia State Senate- narrowly lost the 2005 Virginia Lt Governors Race.
I live in New Hampshire’s first, I helped the Carol Shea-Porter campaign (though I’m a much bigger fan of her colleague Paul Hodes, the new Congressman from NH-02), and let me tell you, Jeb Bradley is done. New Hampshire has had a blue revolution this year, and Democrats have more power in NH now than they’ve had in nearly 140 years, and our Democratic Governor won re-election in 2006 with the greatest margin of victory in a NH gubernatorial race ever–he’s the 90th Governor and we hold elections for that position every 2 years.
I’m pretty convinced the only seat in the New Hampshire Congressional delegation that will change parties in the 2008 election is John Sununu’s (R) Senate seat.
http://www.intentdis…
Boyda-D KS-02 has proven that she could take out Ryun in spite of a strong & nasty Gop Robocall call campaign & lack of DCCC support. Wingnuts in Kansas may likely not be able to make a comeback in Kansas any time soon. Mc Nerney-D CA-11 could only have a tough race if its against someone other than Pombo-R and if the Gop has a divisive primary there again, that may seal their fate there. I also think that Jerry has been well positioned to hold the seat and hopefully the top of the Democratic ticket in Ca in 2008 will be a help too.
Patty Wetterling-D MN-06 probably should take a pass as should Lois Murphy-D PA-06 & Diane Farrell-D CT-04.
As it looks like there will be no resolve of the Iraq War coming from the Bush Administration nor any change in their policies/direction(read: Intransigence), I see ’08 as another Blue year, at this juncture in time.
Second runs by Massa-D NY-29 & Stender-D NJ-07, Brown-D CA-04 & Seals-D IL-11 may prove more fortuitous the second time around, especially if the DCC gives them decent support this time.
Bradley-D NH-02 just sounds like a Bozo and given that CS-P pulled the rug out from under him under less than fantastic circumstances, I think she’ll be able to hold the seat.
that is why Emily’s list was involved with Wetterling. At approx R+5, it isn’t an easy District, I can see where a more conservative Dem might stand a better chance. Though I’d have to hold my nose sending any $$ to any Anti-Choice Dem, but against Bachman-R, I’d probably send money.
Good point on Wofford. He didn’t exactly have coattails between Kerry-D and especially not any running next to Joe Hoeffel-D. Chester & Montgomery Counties have always given the Specter-R strong support. 2004 was not our year, 2008 will be alot different.
Didn’t the VNS call Swett as the winner? I thought there was a controversy over that.
But it was freakin’ Bob Smith.
Why not have a comeback in LA-06 from a candidate who almost unseated an incumbent in 1998?
Here are the results:
U. S. Representative, 6th Congressional District
All 530 precincts reporting
Click here for Results by Parish
97,044 51% Richard Baker, R Elected
94,201 49% Marjorie McKeithen, D Defeated
Marjorie McKeithen is the daughter of a Republican Secretary of State and the granddaughter of a very famous Democratic Governor. She is now Secretary of the Louisiana State Mineral Board and Assistant Secretary of the Office of Mineral Resources. Although her father switched parties in 1987, she and her grandfather remain staunch Democrats.
I think the final Gallup poll only had Bush up by three points.