By, Jennifer Lipman
1 min read
ByJennifer Lipman, Jennifer Lipman
It was a mixed result for Jewish politicians as America voted in the 2010 mid-terms.
In what appears to have been the worst results in decades for the Democrats, President Barack Obama’s party has lost its majority in the House of Representatives and suffered defeats in key senate seats.
Richard Blumenthal, despite a tough challenge from the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, and a scandal over his claimed Vietnam record, was elected as the new junior Senator for Connecticut.
The other senator for the state is Jewish politician Joe Lieberman, the vice presidential candidate for the Democrats in 2000, who became an independent in 2008 after endorsing John McCain for the presidency.
Senator Barbara Boxer held on to her long-time California senate seat despite a challenge from the former CEO of Hwelett Packard, Carly Fiorina.
David Cicilline, currently the mayor of Providence in Rhode Island, was elected to Congress. With congressman Barney Frank reelected in Massachusetts and Jared Polis holding on to his Colorado seat, there will now be three openly gay Jewish politician in Congress.
However there were also significance losses, with Republican candidates unseating three-term Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold. Incumbent Democrat congressmen Ron Klein and Alan Grayson lost races in Florida, while John Adler, New Jersey congressman since 2008, also suffered a defeat.
Eric Cantor – the only Jewish Republican in congress - is expected to become the new majority leader of the House, a powerful position held in the past by political heavyweights including Democrat Tip O’Neill and Republican Tom Delay.
