Democrats Win 18 More House Seats

Party Hoped for Gain of 30 but Will Be Close to 259 Seats It Held in 1994

House Democrats promised an agenda of improving the economy, ending the war in Iraq and expanding access to health care after gaining at least 18 additional seats in Tuesday's elections, ballooning the size of the party's congressional majority to its largest since 1994.

"Our increased numbers in the House will better enable us to work closely with our new president for a vision for America and for a plan to succeed," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference on Capitol Hill. "With our added numbers, more numbers in the House, more in the Senate and a Democrat in the White House, we have an opportunity, we have a responsibility, and the American people should and will hold us accountable."

While some analysts had suggested that Democrats could gain more than 30 seats, the party appeared to have fallen short of that, but it will approach the total of 259 seats it held in 1994 before Republicans seized control of Congress that fall.

On Tuesday, four House Democrats were defeated, including Reps. Tim Mahoney (Fla.), who was embroiled in a sex scandal, and Nick Lampson (Tex.), who had claimed the seat of former House majority leader Tom DeLay two years ago.

But Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), who described his constituents as "racist" and "redneck" in recent weeks, easily won reelection over William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel.

In several contests the results were so close that a winner had not yet been determined. In the race to replace retiring Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R) in a district based on Maryland's Eastern Shore, absentee ballots probably will decide the winner between Democrat Frank M. Kratovil Jr., a state's attorney in Queen Anne's County, and Andy Harris, a doctor.

Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.) and Tom Perriello, a lawyer, also were in an unresolved race late yesterday, separated by fewer than 50 votes. The Ohio race between state Sen. Steve Stivers (R) and Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy to replace retiring Rep. Deborah Pryce (R) will not be decided for days as officials count absentee ballots.

Because Hurricane Gustav delayed Louisiana's primaries in September, that state will hold elections for two House seats on Dec. 6.

Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), who is awaiting trial on bribery charges, won the Democratic primary runoff held on Election Day and is expected to cruise to victory in his heavily African American district. A close race is expected between Democrat Paul Carmouche, a district attorney, and Republican John Fleming, a doctor, to replace Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), who is retiring.

Democrats defeated more than a dozen GOP incumbents on Tuesday, including the only remaining Republican House member in New England, the long-targeted Christopher Shays, who lost to former Goldman Sachs vice president Jim Himes. In Ohio, Rep. Steve Chabot (R), who had also previously withstood strong Democratic challenges, lost to state Rep. Steve Driehaus. A win in an open seat in New York made that state's delegation completely Democratic.

Democrats dominated in seats where Republicans retired, including a win in Virginia by Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who captured the seat given up by Rep. Tom Davis.

"What happened was really historic in its nature," Pelosi said. "Two years and two days ago, we had 203 Democrats in the Congress. I don't know what the final number will be in this election, but it will be well over 250, and that is as a result of not one wave two years ago but as a result of two waves. This is historic, that you have one wave after another."

In letter to his GOP colleagues, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said that he was "disappointed" by the election results but that they were not a "repudiation of conservatism or a validation of big government."

Pelosi repeatedly said Democrats would govern "from the middle" but did not specify the issues on which she was prepared to compromise with Republicans.

With Democratic activists eagerly anticipating control of both houses of Congress and the White House, Pelosi seemed to be looking to tamp down expectations on her five legislative priorities: ending the war in Iraq, improving health care and education, expanding the use of alternative sources of energy and fixing the economy.

She hinted that results may not come immediately, because the issues are complicated to address legislatively and so much federal money is going to be used to ease the current economic crisis.

"If you're talking about access to quality health care for all Americans, you have to think in a comprehensive way," Pelosi said. "It has to be bipartisan, again bipartisan and comprehensive, and it has to adhere to fiscal soundness. . . . The comprehensive pieces will take longer."

House Democrats could face a leadership election if Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who holds the No. 4 job as caucus chairman, resigns to become President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff. Pelosi sidestepped a question about whether she had discussed the post with Emanuel or encouraged him to accept it.