National Tally
V.S. Senate 53-47
U.S. House
232-202
U.S. Senate
Virginia
Charles Robb (D)
Oliver North (R)
Tennessee
Jim Cooper (D)
Fred Thompson (R)
Bill Frisk (R) /
Jim Sasser (D)
U.S. Hoi se
Illinois
Michael Flanagan (R)
*Dan Rostenkowski (D)
Goverors
California
*PeteV4ilson.(R)
Kathleen Brown (D)
Florida
Jeb Bush (R)
*Lawton Chiles (D)
Massachussetts
*William F. Weld (R)
Mark Roosevelt (D)
New York
George E. Pataki (R)
*Mario M. Cuomo (D)
Texas
George W. Bush (R)
*Ann Richards (D)
Illinois
*Jim Edgar (R)
Dawn Clark Netsch (D)
* denotes incumbent
Governorships 30-19
Republicans lead in all
three categories.
One hundred four years of editorial freedom
*rn1
Republicans reclaim House, Senate after 40 years
Abraham
takes open
Senate seat
By JONATHAN BERNDT
and SCOT WOODS
Daily Staff Reporters
LANSING - Republican Spence
raham, transformed from behind-
tre-scenes strategist to successful can-
didate, was elected to the U.S. Senate
yesterday, defeating Democratic U.S.
Rep. Bob Carr.
With 78 percent of precincts re-
porting unofficial returns, Abraham
had 1,207,588 votes or 52 percent to
1,500,334 votes or 43 percent for Carr.
Libertarian Jon Coon had 95,978 votes
or 4 percent.
* In becoming Michigan's first Re-
publican U.S. senator since 1979,
Abraham, a former state party chair-
man, helped the GOP retake control
of the U.S. Senate.
Abraham told joyous supporters
he would keep his campaign promise
"to shake up Washington with the
ideas that have worked in Michigan.
e will get it done."
Looking ahead to the prospect of a
publican-controlled Senate, he said
voters could expect "less taxes, less
spending, less government regula-
tion."
"I'm going to hopefully be able to
help ...-the middle-class, hardworking
families of Michigan keep more of
what they earn," Abraham said.
Standing next to Gov. John Engler
adhiswife, Michelle, Abrahamjoked
the would teach the re-elected
governor how to change dirty dia-
pers. Mrs. Engler is pregnant with
triplets, due sometime in December.
"You taught me how to win an
election. I'll teach you how to change
diapers," he joked.
See ABRAHAM, Page 2
From Staff and Wire Reports
The Republican Party made sweeping electoral gains
in yesterday's midterm elections, taking control of both
houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years.
Associated Press estimates at 3:15 a.m. gave the
Republicans a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate and a
232-202-1 majority in the U.S. House, the first time since
1954.
The Republicans appear to have picked up 54 votes in
the House, nine Senate seats and 10 governorships.
Riding a tide of voter discontent, the GOP captured a
string of governorships. Ann Richards fell to George W.
Bush in Texas and Mario Cuomo lost in New York as
persistent misgivings about President Clinton propelled
the Republicans into power. Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles,
a Democrat, held a narrow lead over Republican Jeb
Bush at press time.
This tide also swept out former Ways and Means
Committee chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a 36-year vet-
eran indicted in May on federal corruption charges. He
was defeated by Republican Michael Flanagan, an un-
known lawyer.
Republicans did not lose any of their U.S. Senate
seats, while knocking off at least one incumbent, Ten-
nessee Sen. Jim Sasser. In another Tennessee Senate
race, Fred Dalton Thompson defeated Rep. Jim Cooper.
In one of the few Democratic Senate wins, Sen.
Charles Robb put back a strong challenge from former
Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North.
In Oklahoma, GOP Rep. James M. Inhofe defeated
Rep. Dave McCurdy, a Democrat, to replace outgoing
Democratic Sen. David Boren. In Ohio, Republican Lt.
Gov. Mike DeWine defeated attorney Joel Hyatt, a
Democrat, in a seat held by Hyatt's father-in-law, retir-
ing Democratic Sen. Howard Metezenbaum.
See SWEEP, Page 2
DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily
Gov. John Engler addresses an audience of cheering supporters in Lansing last night. Behind him stands Senator-elect Spence Abraham.
Gov. Engler routs Wolpe in state GOP sweep
Ballot Proposals
constitutional convention
Yes 29%
No 71%
Proposal B
automatic appeal
Yes 71%
No 29%
Insurance reform
Yes 42%
No 58%
Pa t ,
parks endowment
Yam 74%
By JONATHAN BERNDT
Daily Staff Reporter
LANSING - Gov. John Engler,
riding a wave of voter confidence,
easily defeated Democratic challenger
Howard Wolpe with more than 78
percent of the votes reported last night.
With more than half of the pre-
cincts tallied, the Republican gover-
nor received 1,460,292 votes. Wolpe,
who admitted defeat less than two
hours after the polls closed, received
923,262 votes.
L ocal U.S.
House rac
By ZACHARY M. RAIMI
and JOSH WHITE
Daily Staff Reporters
Lynn Rivers and John Schall pacl
their parties and headed for tense cai
headquarters. Supporters headed home tc
the late-coming tallies on television.
The overall mood was somber as resi
a.m. indicated a virtual dead heat for tf
Congressional seat.
With 70 percent of-the precincts rep
Democrat Rivers held a slim lead with
cent of the vote to Republican Scha
percent, The Associated Press reported.
candidates held three percent of the total
an election that will determine who will
seat vacated by Democrat William F
Ypsilanti.
Crhall farQma a inhilant rmow at hic r,
As the stage filled with volunteers
and staffers just a little over an hour
after the polls closed, Engler saved
his biggest and most important
thankyou for the people who voted in
this landslide election.
"And to the voters all across the
state of Michigan who said yes to
lower taxes, better schools and more
jobs: Thank you very much," he said.
The election's numbers and tim-
ing were reminiscent of then-Gov.
James Blanchard's landslide victory
in his first re-election campaign over
Republican William Lucas in 1986.
Wolpe appeared before his back-
ers at 9:45 p.m. to tell them he had
called Engler and conceded. In a
graceful statement, Wolpe congratu-
lated Engler and thanked his staff for
their support.
In a tongue-and-cheek gesture of
goodwill, Wolpe offered the Englers,
who are expecting triplets later this
months, three adorable stuffed ani-
mals.
Horni
over regent incumbents
By LISA DINES appear to be defeated.
and RONNIE GLASSBERG "What will be different is the
Daily Staff Reporters board will lose two people who
Twenty-four years of service on the each served for 24 years ... who
Board of Regents did not protect two have brought a wealth of knowl-
Democratic incumbents from losing to edge, history and experience to the
Republicans, thanks in part to Gov. John board in recent years and will be
Engler's coattails, replaced by two young people, both
According to early returns it appears in their 30s, who will bring energy
Republicans Andrea Fischer of Birming- and enthusiasm, but not the experi-
ham and Daniel Horning of Grand Rap- ence that the two senior regents
ids won the seats yesterday. With 50 have," said Walter Harrison, vice
percent of the vote counted, incumbent president for University relations.
"We hope these three Democratic
donkeys add a little diversity to the
nursery," Wolpe said.
The defeated Democrat reminded
the crowd of about 300 gathered at the
Detroit Westin Hotel why we ran for
governor, telling them to fight on. He
stressed the importance of quality
public education, collective bargain-
ing rights and a government used to
unify, not divide people. MARK FRIEDMAN/Da
"Our fight for these principles must Howard Wolpe concedes defeat to
See ENGLER, Page 2 Gov. Engler in Detroit yesterday
gFischer "lead
Fischer
MOLLY STEVENS/Daily
Lynn Rivers, candidate for U.S. House, thanks
supporters at Paesano's last night.
Democrats Paul Brown of Mackinac Is-
land and James Waters of Musk n
See REGENTS, Page 8
A&
race "too early" to call.
"I don't feel comfortable making a predic-
tion at this point," she said.
Schall's speech was merely a "goodbye"
with no speculation as to the outcome of the
race He anrpee the rce was still undecided
Horning
Sheldon wins 2d term as A mayor
By JAMES NASH
and MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON
Daily Staff Reporters
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon coasted to
cplehra-
I