1994 United States Senate elections
The U.S. Senate election, 1994 was an election in which the Republican Party was able to take control of the Senate from the Democrats by mobilizing voters discontented with congressional incumbents and the early presidency of Bill Clinton.
The Republicans captured eight seats from the Democrats, including the seats of sitting Senators Harris Wofford) (D-PA) and James Sasser (D-TN), as well as six open seats in Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Notably, since Sasser's defeat coincided with the special election to replace Al Gore (who had left the Senate to become Vice-President, the delegation of Tennessee changed from two Democrats to two Republicans in one election.
This defeat changed control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans for the first time since 1986. In combination with the first change of control in the United States House since 1954, this is sometimes called the Republican Revolution. Initially, the balance was 52-48 in favor of Republicans, but after the power change, Democrats Richard Shelby of Alabama and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado switched parties, bringing the balance to 54-46 before the resignation of Bob Packwood and his replacement by a Democrat returned the balance to 53-47.
Senate composition after elections
In blue are democrats (48) and red republicans (52).
| 1 |
11 |
21 |
31 |
41 |
50 |
40 |
30 |
20 |
10 |
| 2 |
12 |
22 |
32 |
42 |
49 |
39 |
29 |
19 |
9 |
| 3 |
13 |
23 |
33 |
43 |
48 |
38 |
28 |
18 |
8 |
| 4 |
14 |
24 |
34 |
44 |
47 |
37 |
27 |
17 |
7 |
| 5 |
15 |
25 |
35 |
45 |
46 |
36 |
26 |
16 |
6 |
| 6 |
16 |
26 |
36 |
46 |
45 |
35 |
25 |
15 |
5 |
| 7 |
17 |
27 |
37 |
47 |
44 |
34 |
24 |
14 |
4 |
| 8 |
18 |
28 |
38 |
48 |
43 |
33 |
23 |
13 |
3 |
| 9 |
19 |
29 |
39 |
1 |
42 |
32 |
22 |
12 |
2 |
| 10 |
20 |
30 |
40 |
51 |
41 |
31 |
21 |
11 |
1 |