Democrats' Future

Will they lose their congressional majorities?

Introduction

Triumphant only two years ago, the Democratic Party could lose its House majority, and possibly its Senate dominance as well. To stave off defeat, it is refashioning its campaign and policy strategies in a political season marked by the rise of hardcore conservatives in Republican ranks. Along with President Obama's election, Democrats won majorities in both houses of Congress. Back then, some commentators were predicting a Democratic “realignment” on the model that Franklin D. Roosevelt built in the 1930s, and which lasted (with some interruptions) for decades. But continuing high unemployment and economic uncertainty gave an opening to the conservative Tea Party upsurge among Republicans. In a year marked by hard-fought congressional elections and the beginning of preparations for the 2012 presidential race, Democrats are ...

locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles