2006 Elections Were Truly Historic

I had a debate with local bloggers and a city council candidate about whether or not the Democratic wave during the 2006 election was historic or not. Their argument was that the 2002 midterm election was more historic because it was the first time since 1934 that a sitting President's party gained seats in a first midterm election. However, as I explained to them, the 2006 elections were truly historic because something happened that had never occurred in the history of the United States. So let's compare shall we:

2002

1. Republicans gained 6 House seats and 2 Senate seats

Analysis:"The Republican victory was... much more a consequence of redistricting (in the House) and of the higher turnout among Republican loyalists than of any national shift in public sentiment toward the party... Not least because of structural impediments, Democrats will face an uphill battle for control of Congress for the remainder of the decade."

2006

1. Democrats gained 31 House seats and 6 Senate seats


2. Prior to this election Republicans held a 28-22 gubanatorial advantage - this was reversed in favor of the Democrats


3. Democrats gained power over 4 state legislatures and 300 state legislative seats


4. Prior to the 2006 election Republicans held a 92 seat majority in the New Hampshire house and an 8 seat majority in the senate - Democrats won 81 seats in the house and 5 in the senate

Analysis:"For the first time in the history of the United States, no Republican captured any House, Senate, or Gubernatorial seat previously held by a Democrat."

If Republicans think that somehow 2006 was just an anomaly that isn't likely to happen again they should look at the polls. It's very likely that the Democratic party will once again gain massive numbers of seats in both chambers of congress - wishing against it won't make it so...