Romney Wins in 2012 and Birth of a New Party

[Captain Chaos]

Willard M. Romney/John Thune (R): 306 EV, 52%
Barack Obama/Joseph Biden (D): 232 EV, 47%

In the aftermath of more banks declaring bankruptcy despite being “too big to fail” and an unemployment rate that stood at 9 percent a week before Election Day and a favorability/unfavorability rating of 45/50 percent, former Massachusetts Governor and Republican nominee Willard "Mitt" Romney and his running mate Senator John Thune of South Dakota triumphed over the incumbent.

While the Democrats made gains in House elections, it was not enough to take back control of the chamber.

R: 225 (-17)
D: 210 (+17)

In the Senate, the Republicans won enough seats to take control.

MA: Elizabeth Warren (D) defeated Senator Scott Brown (R). Democrat Gain
CT: Rep. Chris Murphy (D) defeated Linda McMahon (R). Senator Joe Lieberman (I) retired. Democrat Gain
MT: Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) defeated Senator Jon Tester (D). Republican Gain
AZ: Rep. Jeff Flake (R) defeated Don Bivens (D). Senator Jon Kyl (R) retired.
TX: Lt Gov. David Dewhurst (R) defeated Paul Sadler (D). Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) retired.
WI: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) defeated former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R). Senator Herb Kohl (D) retired.
NM: Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) defeated former Rep. Heather Wilson (R). Senator Jeff Bingaman retired.
ND: Rep. Rick Berg (R) defeated former Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp. Senator Kent Conrad (D) retired. Republican Gain
HI: Rep. Mazie Hirono (D) defeated former Governor Linda Lingle (R). Senator Daniel Akaka (D) retired.
MO: State Auditor Sarah Steelman (R) defeated Senator Claire McCaskill (R). Republican Gain
NE: Attorney General Jon Bruning (R) defeated former Lt Gov. Kim Robak (D). Senator Ben Nelson (D) retired. Republican Gain
VA: Former Governor Tim Kaine (D) defeated former Senator George Allen (R). Senator Jim Webb (D) retired.
NV: Appointed Senator Dean Heller (R) wins a full six-year term by over 2,500 votes over Rep. Shelly Berkley (D).

R: 50 (+3)
D: 49 (-2)
I: 1 (-1), Bernie Sanders (VT) caucuses with the Democrats

Vice President-elect John Thune will cast the tie breaking vote as President of the Senate giving Republicans majority control.

On December 4, 2012, Thune resigned from the US Senate. Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota appointed his predecessor Mike Rounds to Thune's seat. A special election for the seat is scheduled for Election Day 2014 at the same time that the state's other Senator Tim Johnson will be up for reelection.

Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy are reelected to their positions.

Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the new Senate Majority Leader. John Cornyn (R-TX) is elected Senate Majority Whip by his colleagues after Jim DeMint (R-SC) decided not to seek that position, opting to become Chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

As the most senior Republican, Richard Lugar (R-IN) is elected Senate President Pro Tempore.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi stuns the political world when she announces that she will not seek another term as House Minority Leader and will not seek reelection in 2014. Democrats elect Steny Hoyer House Minority Leader while James Clyburn becomes House Minority Whip.

Senator Harry Reid retains his leadership of the Democrats and is elected Senate Minority Leader. Charles Schumer is elected Senate Minority Whip after Senator Dick Durbin announces he will not seek reelection in 2014.

January 20, 2013: Inauguration Day. Mitt Romney is sworn in as President. In his inaugural address, Romney promises an administration that will embrace more freedom and deregulation over more government. He calls on Congress to repeal Obamacare and rewrite health insurance legislation. Harry Reid vows to prevent a vote on repeal of Obamacare, and he has the votes to prevent it.

As a result, gridlock continued in the nation's capital. Despite having the White House and Congress, Republicans were unable to pass much of their agenda. President Romney had to compromise with the Democrats on a watered down tax bill that kept the payroll tax cuts in place until June 30, 2019 and cut the lowest capital gains tax rate from 15 to 12 percent for sales of small business stock effective May 1, 2016.

On social issues, gays were still allowed to serve in the military (Carl Levin and Kirstin Gillibrand vowed to block a vote on the Defense Appropriations bill if Romney reinstated "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"). President Romney reluctantly agreed to a smaller cut in funding for Planned Parenthood to prevent the Federal Government from shutting down during October 2013. Evangelicals and Tea Partiers were furious.

While Governor Chris Christie was reelected in New Jersey, the Democrats won back the Virginia Governor's mansion with Brian Moran's victory over State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. In New York City, Speaker of the NYC Council Christine Quinn became the first woman and first openly gay or lesbian elected mayor with Mike Bloomberg announcing his retirement from politics.

[Jerseyrules]

Neat!

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Richard Lugar will be President pro tem of the Senate not Orrin Hatch. Unless you had Lugar primaried via Tea Party. 

[Captain Chaos]

Richard Lugar will be President pro tem of the Senate not Orrin Hatch. Unless you had Lugar primaried via Tea Party. 

Thanks, I just fixed it.

[Simfan34]

New York's mayoral election,  and NJ's and Virginia's gubernatorial election are in 2013.

[Captain Chaos]

New York's mayoral election,  and NJ's and Virginia's gubernatorial election are in 2013.

Read my first post. I mentioned the 2013 election results.

[Jerseyrules]

New York's mayoral election, and NJ's and Virginia's gubernatorial election are in 2013.

Read my first post. I mentioned the 2013 election results.

No offense, but I think it would be hard for him to win renomination after his loss to Bloomberg only 4 years prior; maybe Alec Baldwin for star power?  And Bloomberg retires from politics?  ASB

[Captain Chaos]

New York's mayoral election, and NJ's and Virginia's gubernatorial election are in 2013.

Read my first post. I mentioned the 2013 election results.

No offense, but I think it would be hard for him to win renomination after his loss to Bloomberg only 4 years prior; maybe Alec Baldwin for star power?  And Bloomberg retires from politics?  ASB

I revised my post on the NYC 2013 mayoral election.

[Captain Chaos]

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2014, Christine Quinn was sworn in as Mayor of New York City. The crowd cheered with approval after Mayor Quinn kissed her spouse Kim Catullo. The couple married the week before on Christmas Eve.

2014 would be marked by more partisan gridlock and very little accomplished in Washington, DC. Outside the beltway, the unemployment rate climbed to 10 percent by Election Day.

Despite President Romney's approval ratings falling to 40 percent and Congress' to 19 percent, the Republicans managed to hang on to control of the House and Senate. The Republicans lost only two seats and were reduced to a 223-212 majority.

Meanwhile in the US Senate

KY: US Rep Ben Chandler (D) defeated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R). Democrat Gain
IL: Lt Governor Sheila Simon (D) defeated former US Rep Joe Walsh (R). Senator Dick Durbin (D) retired.
MT: Denise Juneau (D) defeated former US Rep Rick Hill (R). Senator Max Baucus (D) retired.
NJ: Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) defeated US Rep Scott Garrett (R). Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) retired.
SD: (Special Election) Senator Mike Rounds (R) elected to remaining two years of Vice President Thune’s Senate term.
SD: Rep. Kirsti Noem (R) defeated former US Rep Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D). Senator Tim Johnson retired. Republican Gain
TN: Lt Governor Ron Ramsey (R) defeated US Rep Steve Cohen (D). Senator Lamar Alexander (R) retired.

R: 50 (no change)
D: 49 (no change)
Ind: 1 (no change)

In the House, Democrats retained their leadership. But on the Republican side of the aisle, Eric Cantor defeated John Boehner for the nomination to be the next Speaker of the House. The new House Majority Leader is Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Aaron Schock (R-IL) is elected House Majority Whip. First elected to Congress in 2008 at the age of 26, Schock was recently reelected to his fourth term.

In the Senate, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is re-elected Senate Minority Whip. Republicans elect John Cornyn the new Senate Majority Leader. He is succeeded as Majority Whip by Marco Rubio (R-FL).

The Democrats would do much better in gubernatorial races with a net gain of eight.

AK: State Senator Hollis French (D) defeated State Rep Joe Miller (R). Governor Sean Parnell (R) did not seek re-election (elected to succeed Don Young who retired from Congress). Democrat Gain
AR: Lt Governor Mark Darr (R) defeated former US Rep Mike Ross (D). Governor Mike Beebe (D) was term limited. Republican Gain
AZ: State Senator Kirsten Synema (D) defeated US Rep Trent Franks (R). Governor Jan Brewer (R) retired. Democrat Gain
CA: Lt Governor Gavin Newsom (D) defeated San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (R). Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. (D) retired.
FL: US Rep Kathy Castor (D) defeated Governor Rick Scott (R). Democrat Gain
HI: Lt Governor Brian Schatz (D) defeated former US Rep Charles Djou (R). Governor Neil Abercrombie (D) did not seek re-election.
ID: Lt Governor Brad Little (R) defeated former State Rep Jim Hansen (D). Governor Butch Otter was term-limited.
IL: Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) defeated US Rep Peter Roskam (R). Governor Pat Quinn (D) retired.
MA: Former US Senator Scott Brown (R) defeated former US Rep Stephen Lynch (D). Governor Deval Patrick was term limited. Republican Gain
MD: Former State Rep. Mark Shriver (D) defeated former RNC Chairman Michael Steele (R). Governor Martin O'Malley (D) was term limited.
ME: US Rep Shellie Pingree (D) defeated Governor Paul LePage (R). Democrat Gain
MI: Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero (D) defeated Governor Rick Snyder (R). Democrat Gain
NE: Former Lt Governor Kim Robak (D) defeated US Rep Jeff Fortenberry (R). Governor Dave Heineman (R) retired. Democrat Gain
NV: US Rep Dina Titus (D) defeated Governor Bryan Sandoval (R). Democrat Gain
OH: Former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) defeated Governor John Kasich (R). Democrat Gain
PA: Attorney General Patrick Murphy (D) defeated Governor Tom Corbett (R). Democrat Gain
SC: State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D) defeated Governor Nikki Haley (R). Democrat Gain
TX: San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (D) defeated former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (R). Governor Rick Perry (R) retired. Democrat Gain

D: 30 (+8)
R: 19 (-8)
Ind: 1

After the Thanksgiving weekend, a political earthquake erupts as former US Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana announced the formation of a new political party, the United American Party, at a press conference in Indianapolis. He is joined at the podium by prominent politicians from all over the country who are now former Democrats and Republicans.

Explaining the reasons for forming the new party, Bayh states that: “When a Republican President and Republican Congress are unable to end a recession and bring down unemployment, and the Democrats are unable to capitalize on Mitt Romney’s failed administration, it is evident that the system is broken in Washington. Since both parties are unable to put this country over partisanship, it is time to elect people who will bring a moderating influence on the issues that the people want addressed. From this day forward, we are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans.”

December 15, 2014:
At a press conference in Portland, Maine, Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announce that they are leaving the Republicans for the United American Party. They are joined by former Governor Angus King who will become the first state chairman of the party.

December 16, 2014:
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky announces his departure from the Republican Party and switches his registration to Independent. “I can no longer support a President who promised to cut the size of government and increase our freedoms, and yet cut deals with Democrats to do the opposite. I will not endorse Mitt Romney for reelection in 2016.”

The lineup of the Senate now stands at

D: 49
R: 47
UAP: 2
I (Sanders): 1
I (Paul): 1

[Jerseyrules]

Liking this!

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

What about the Wisconsin recalls and 2014 gubernatorial elections?

[Captain Chaos]

I intended to list only those new Senators and Governors that emerged from the 2012 and 2014 election cycles.

To answer your questions, Kathleen Falk defeated incumbent Scott Walker in the 2012 recall Governor race in Wisconsin. The Democrats won back both houses of the Wisconsin legislature in November 2012 and brought back collective bargaining rights for public sector employees. Governor Falk won a full four year term in 2014.