A look back at a Special Election in 1994 that foreshadowed the GOP House takeover.

1994 Special Election Washington Week with The Atlantic

Premiered May 27, 2011
1994 Special Election

In the wake of the Congressional special election upset in New York this week, we look back into the "Vault" at parallels to a 1994 special election. Like this year, in which a national issue (Medicare Reform) shaped the debate, in 1994 the issue was Bill Clinton's popularity. It was the first foreshadowing of voter discontent that would lead to the GOP takeover of the House later that year.

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Washington Week with The Atlantic

Washington Week with The Atlantic is the longest-running primetime news and public affairs program on television. The show features a group of journalists participating in a roundtable discussion of major news events and can be found at 8pm ET on most local PBS stations.

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