Republican Party Faces Big Problems After Strong 1994 Win
GOP leaders may have misunderstood what voters really wanted when they won control of Congress.
The Republican Party is facing its biggest challenge in years. After winning control of Congress in 1994, GOP leaders thought they had all the answers. They believed beating President Bill Clinton in 1996 would be easy. Now their presidential campaign is in trouble and their congressional leadership is struggling.
Political experts say Republicans misunderstood what their 1994 victory really meant. They thought voters wanted a complete change in how government works. But recent problems suggest they were wrong about what Americans actually wanted. The party's difficulties show how hard it can be to turn election wins into lasting political success.
The Republican presidential race has become very messy. Several candidates are fighting for the nomination, and the party might even split apart. Some Republicans worry that if Patrick Buchanan wins, other party members will form a separate political party. This kind of division could hurt Republicans badly in the general election.
They thought [November 1994] was the Russian revolution.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. What year did Republicans win big in congressional elections?
2. Who won the Republican primary in Delaware?
3. What does 'mandate' mean in this political context?