Democrats seize control of Congress

By From Staff and Wire Reports

It was a good night for the College Democrats.

The club gathered off campus to watch election results on TV and via computer, cheering and talking well into the night. The atmosphere was joyful and celebratory in the wake of a Democratic sweep of Congress in an election that has been referred to as a referendum on President George W. Bush's Iraq policy.

Control of Congress was in sight for Democrats after Republican Sen. Conrad Burns was ousted in Montana on Wednesday and the Democrats led in a contested Virginia, giving Democrats control of Congress for the first time in 12 years even as late victories padded their day-old majority.

"It was a thumpin'," conceded President Bush, on the receiving end. The Democratic Party "had a good night," he added.

In an all-around banner election year for Democrats, voters frustrated about the direction of the country toppled Republicans at all levels of government in a searing rebuke of the status quo.

The president, who spoke of spending his political capital after his successful re-election two years ago, said, "As the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility."

With power on Capitol Hill tilting, Bush faced the reality of Congress in the opposition's hands for the final two years of his presidency. He announced that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld would step down.

The war in Iraq, scandals in Congress and declining support for Bush and Republicans on Capitol Hill defined the battle for House and Senate control, with the public embracing the Democrats' call for change to end a decade of one-party rule in Washington.

"This new Democratic majority has heard the voices of the American people," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat all but certain to become the nation's first female speaker, adding that Americans placed their trust in Democrats. "We will honor that trust. We will not disappoint."

With the GOP booted from power, lame-duck Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., announced he will not run for leader of House Republicans when Democrats take control in January.

Democrats captured 51 Senate seats and Republicans held 49. The battle for power came down to Virginia, where Democrat Jim Webb, a former Navy secretary under Ronald Reagan, had an edge over GOP Sen. George Allen.

Webb won Virginia's pivotal Senate race Wednesday, unseating Republican George Allen and giving the Democrats control of Congress for the first time in 12 years.

The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their post-election canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302 votes, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss has not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cruised to victory, winning the race with almost a million votes over Democrat Phil Angelides.

"I think that he ran a very strong campaign. Ultimately, his message was one for continued reform, strengthening the economy, and bringing power back to the people and letting them make decisions," Jonas Pauliukonis, president of the College Republicans said.

Most of the propositions on the ballot were rejected on Tuesday, including the much-debated Propositions 87 and 86, which would have taxed oil companies and added a 13 cent tax per cigarette, respectively.

Proposition 83, the so-called "Jessica's Law," was overwhelmingly approved by voters, however a legal challenge was filed Wednesday morning by a former convict who said the measure would bar him "from the home that he owns with his wife and his community of over 20 years." U.S. District Judge Susan Illston blocked enforcement of the measure, calling the proposition "punitive by design and effect" and likely unconstitutional.

The measure would expand the definition of a violent sex offender, require mandatory GPS monitoring, and prohibit sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.