GREEK AMERICANS AND THE 2006 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
By Gene Rossides
Hellenic News of America
May 10 2006
The 2006 congressional elections in the House of Representatives
and the U.S. Senate are well under way. They offer Greek Americans
an excellent opportunity: (1) to voice their views on foreign policy
issues of concern to them and (2) to seek to influence the views of
those running for elective office.
Because of President George W. Bush’s low ratings in the opinion polls
on job performance, the Democratic Party believes it has a chance to
capture either the House or Senate or both. As a result there will
be a much greater interest in these elections than would normally be
the case.
Most observers believe that the Democrats are likely to gain seats
both in the House and in the Senate for the first time since 2000.
The question is whether the Democrats can gain sufficient seats to
achieve a majority in either chamber.
The Republicans hold 231 House seats out of 435 seats and the Democrats
201 seats with one Democrat- leaning independent and 2 vacancies which
are split between the parties. The Democrats need to have a net gain
of 15 seats to become the majority party in the House.
In the Senate the Republicans hold a majority of 55 seats to the
Democrats 44 plus one Democrat- leaning independent. The Democrats
need to gain six seats to achieve a majority in the Senate.
The news for the next six months to election day on November 7, 2006
will feature politics 24/7. This applies also in the overwhelming
majority of safe seats in the House and Senate because of President
Bush?s low- poll ratings- in the 30?s. Republicans and Democrats well
remember the anti-incumbent mood in 1994 which led to an unforeseen
Republican landslide and a majority in the House and Senate and Newt
Gingrich becoming Speaker of the House. The Republicans picked up
54 House seats and 10 Senate seats. The Democrats had controlled the
House for 40 years.
Following the 2000 census, redistricting increased the number of
“safe” districts in the House which means “safely” in the hands of
one party or the other. Only 32 congressional districts were close
in 2004. By close I mean the winner won with less than 55% of the vote.
This means that incumbents have a strong hold on retaining power.
Michael Barone, a leading political analyst and nationally syndicated
columnist, writes that the Democrats? chances of capturing a net gain
of 15 seats “are not very good,” although they do “have a chance to
win the House, but it?s far from a sure thing.” (Washington Times,
3-14-06, A19, col.3).
In the Senate there are 33 races this year (one-third of the Senate
is up for election every two years). The Democrats are defending 18
seats while the Republicans are defending 15 seats. The Democrats,
who need a net gain of 6 seats to control the Senate, will concentrate
on Rhode Island and Pennsylvania in the East, on Ohio and Missouri
in the Midwest and on Montana and Arizona.
To counter the Democrats possibilities of picking up Republican seats,
the Republicans are targeting two of the Democrats three open seats,
one in Maryland where Senator Paul Sarbanes is retiring and the other
in Minnesota. Republicans also are saying they have chances against
three Democratic incumbents, namely Senators Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.),
Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.).
This year’s key Senate race is in Pennsylvania, where Republican
Senator Rick Santorum in a bid for third term is running behind the
state Treasurer Bob Case Jr. (D).
In Rhode Island, a Democratic-leaning state, Republican Senator
Lincoln D. Chafee is in trouble and also faces a primary opponent
in the September 12 GOP primary. If successful, he will face either
former state attorney general Sheldon Whitehouse or Secretary of State
Matt Brown. Whitehouse is currently out-in-front for the Democratic
nomination.
In Ohio, Senator Mike DeWine (R) is in trouble in his race for
re-election, in substantial part because of GOP scandals in Ohio,
of which he is not a part. His Democratic opponent will be decided
in a primary this month.
In Montana, Senator Conrad Burns (R) is in trouble because of media
reports which detailed his financial ties to indicted lobbyist Jack
Abramoff. The two Democrats who are trying to unseat him are state
Auditor John Morrison and state Senator Jon Testor.
The Democrats need to win all 4 of these races and 2 more, one in
Arizona and one in Missouri. The incumbent Republican Senators in
Arizona, Jon Kyl, and in Missouri, James M. Talent, are less vulnerable
than the 4 discussed above.
I will discuss the relevant House races in a future article.
Because of the intense interest in the 2006 House and Senate races,
Greek Americans have a much better opportunity to be heard to advance
their views on foreign policy issues than previously. Incumbents and
challengers will listen more closely to their constituent?s views.
The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) once again is making a special
effort this year to solicit the foreign policy views of both incumbents
and challengers and will publish the results in October prior to the
November 7 election date. AHI is a non-political and is not authorized
to endorse candidates. It is authorized to inform the public as to
the positions and voting records of candidates.
AHI?s aim is to have both incumbents and challengers support our
positions in the best interest of the U.S.
It is of great importance for Greek Americans to get involved in the
political process. I urge each reader to get active. You can make a
difference. Contact the candidates and tell them your views on our
issues-Cyprus, the Aegean, FYROM, religious freedom and protection
in Turkey for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the reopening of Halki
Patriarchal School of Theology, compensation for victims of Turkish
genocide, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, the need for
a critical review of U.S. policy towards Turkey, human rights for
the Greek minority in Albania, recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by Turkey and support for AHI?s legislative initiatives.
If you want to be part of AHI?s Congressional Contact Leadership Team
in your state and in your congressional district please contact AHI-
telephone: (202) 785-8430, e-mail: [email protected].
To reach your Representative and your two Senators call and write
as follows:
U.S. House of Representatives:
The Honorable____________ U.S. House of Representatives Washington,
D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-224-3121 (general number)
U.S. Senate The Honorable___________ U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3121 (general number)
Get active. You can make a difference.
Gene Rossides is President of the American Hellenic Institute and
former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury