Midterm election results in redder nation

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Midterm election results poured in Tuesday night surprising many voters with a sweeping win for Republican candidates.

Although several offices were up for grabs on both the state and federal level, the flipping of the U.S. Senate reaped the most notice. Republicans gained seven seats formerly held by Democratic senators, thus gaining majority in the Senate. The current standings on Senate seats are Republicans-52, Democrats-43, Independents-2 and five seats undetermined.

“I think it sent a message to Washington on how things are going and people’s frustrations with it,” freshman Morgan DeLong said. “I know there won’t be immediate change because it’s politics and there always will be disagreement, but I think it’s a step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be compromise on both sides and things will get done.”

With the Republicans gaining control of the Senate, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell will replace current Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.

“Tomorrow, the papers will say I won this race, but the truth is… tonight we begin another one, one that’s far more important than mine — and that’s the race to turn this country around,” McConnell said in a Fox News article.

In the U.S. House, Republicans added to their majority, bringing the total number of seats to Republicans-244 and Democrats-180.

“We’re ready to compromise,” Vice President Joe Biden said in a CNN article.

Oklahoma had an unique midterm election as both U.S. Senate seats were open. U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, who was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, stepped down from his seat two years early. Republican James Lankford, who began his political career four years ago, will take his place.

“I think midterms are important because the president doesn’t make all the decisions, which I think is a concept most people don’t understand,” DeLong said. “You can’t get anything done if the Senate and the House aren’t working together, so they’re just as important to get majorities in both so things can get done.”

Republican Governor  Mary Fallin kept her position as Oklahoma’s chief executive, defeating opponent Joe Dorman.

“We voted for the governor, and the governor is the most important officer in the state,” junior Jonathan Miller said. “That is important. Every two years we elect our representatives, which is important. Even if it’s not one where the president is elected, I think all elections are vital.”

Other notable Oklahoma results were the re-elections of Jim Inhofe as U.S. Senator, Todd Lamb as Lieutenant Governor and Joy Hofmeister as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The 2014 midterm election brought a few firsts in demographics as well. Joni Ernst, newly elected Republican and Iraq war veteran, is the first woman to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate. Called a “historic win,” Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, became the first African-American from the South to be elected to the Senate since the Reconstruction era. Scott, an Iraq war veteran as well, is also the first African-American to be elected to both the House and Senate.

New policies via bill proposals were also brought in through the midterm elections. Washington D.C., Alaska and Oregon overwhelmingly passed bills legalizing recreational marijuana use.

In Washington D.C., nearly 70 percent of voters supported a new law allowing residents to possess two ounces of marijuana and grow up to six plants in their home. The Oregon law legalizes personal possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana for people 21 years of age and older. This new law creates a conflict between federal and city laws.

When asked the most important issues riding on this election, 45 percent of voters were concerned with the state of the economy.

“I was mainly concerned with economics,” Miller said. “The economy is getting better, although medium wages haven’t really increased in the last five years. The Senate shifted back to Republican control and I think that’s a sign that citizens aren’t satisfied with the way the Democrats handled the economy and they want to see some changes.”

Other troublesome issues on ballots included terrorism, gay marriage, marijuana, Ebola, ObamaCare and abortion.

“Personally, the abortion issue is a big thing to me,” DeLong said. “I believe it’s an issue that a lot of people are looking over.”

For the next two years Congress and the White House will be controlled by different parties.

“I think it was a step in the right direction and hopefully we will see some progress,” DeLong said.