1998 United States House of Representatives elections
They were a major disappointment for the Republicans, who were expecting to gain seats due to the embarrassment Clinton suffered during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the "six-year itch" effect observed in most second-term midterm elections.However, the Republicans lost five seats to the Democrats, although they retained a narrow majority in the House.A wave of Republican discontent with Speaker Newt Gingrich prompted him to resign shortly after the election; he was replaced by Congressman Dennis Hastert of Illinois.The campaign was marked by Republican attacks on the morality of President Bill Clinton, with independent counsel Kenneth Starr having released his report on the Lewinsky scandal and House leaders having initiated an inquiry into whether impeachable offenses had occurred.However, exit polls indicated that most voters opposed impeaching Clinton, and predictions of high Republican or low Democratic turnout due to the scandal failed to materialize.
Popular vote and seats total by states
| House seats by party holding plurality in state | |
|---|---|
|
80%+ Democratic
|
80%+ Republican
|
|
60%+ to 80% Democratic
|
60%+ to 80% Republican
|
|
Up to 60% Democratic
|
Up to 60% Republican
|
|
80%+ Independent
|
|
|
6+ Democratic gain
|
6+ Republican gain
|
|
3-5 Democratic gain
|
3-5 Republican gain
|
|
1-2 Democratic gain
|
1-2 Republican gain
|
|
no net change
|
|
1998 United States electionsUnited States House of RepresentativesNewt GingrichDick GephardtRepublicanDemocraticGeorgia 6thMissouri 3rdIndependentSpeakerDennis HastertU.S. Representatives106th United States Congressmidterm electionsPresidentBill ClintonMonica Lewinsky scandalsix-year itchKenneth Starran inquiryimpeachableRepublican PartyDemocratic PartyLibertarian PartyReform PartyNatural Law PartyU.S. Taxpayers' PartyGreen PartyConservative PartyRight to Life PartyIndependent American PartyCalifornia 3Vic FazioCalifornia 34Esteban TorresCalifornia 36Jane Harmanrun for GovernorColorado 2David SkaggsConnecticut 1Barbara B. KennellyIllinois 9Sidney R. YatesIllinois 19Glenn PoshardIndiana 9Lee HamiltonKentucky 6Scotty Baeslerrun for U.S. SenateMassachusetts 8Joseph P. Kennedy IINew York 7Thomas MantonNew York 9Chuck SchumerNorth Carolina 8Bill HefnerOhio 11Louis StokesOregon 1Elizabeth FursePennsylvania 15Paul McHaleTexas 20Henry B. GonzálezCalifornia 1Frank RiggsColorado 6Daniel SchaeferIdaho 2Mike CrapoIllinois 13Harris FawellKentucky 4Jim BunningMississippi 4Michael ParkerNebraska 2Jon ChristensenNevada 1John EnsignNew York 22Gerald SolomonNew York 27Bill PaxonOregon 2Bob SmithPennsylvania 10Joseph M. McDadeSouth Carolina 4Bob InglisWashington 3Linda SmithWisconsin 1Mark NeumannWisconsin 2Scott KlugCalifornia 41Jay KimGary MillerWisconsin 8Jay JohnsonMark GreenKansas 3Vince SnowbargerDennis MooreNew Jersey 12Mike PappasRush Holt Jr.New Mexico 3Bill RedmondTom UdallPennsylvania 13Jon D. FoxJoe HoeffelWashington 1Rick WhiteJay InsleePennsylvania 10thLouisiana 6thConnecticut 5thCalifornia 49thCalifornia 36thColorado 2nd