Election Results and Transportation

Tuesday’s elections brought with it not only a sea change in members of the House and Senate, but also changes in the make-up of the key transportation-related committees of both bodies. With those changes in Congress and in Governorships will come not only an adjustment in partisan make-up but also a possible change in priorities. There was significant upheaval in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, while retirements resulted in most of the vacancies on Senate transportation-related committees.

House

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Currently, with less than 10 races yet to be called, the Republicans have gained 61 House seats overall, 22 more than needed to take the majority. On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, at least 16 of the 46 Democrats will not be returning, including Chairman Oberstar, with two races too close to call at this point (Larsen of Washington and Ortiz of Texas). Chairman Oberstar was the only high ranking Democrat on the committee to lose re-election, with the next ranked defeat being Gene Taylor of Mississippi (10th in seniority). The bulk of Democrat losses were in the lower third of the Committee, mostly 1st and 2nd term members.

For the Republicans, most of the vacancies on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be from Members who retired or ran for higher office. Six Republicans will not be returning, possibly seven, depending on the status of Rep. Mario Diaz Balart. He served on the committee while representing FL-25th, but he ran for and won his brother's seat, FL-21st. The only Republican to lose re-election was Anh Cao (LA).

Congressman Mica (FL) is the expected incoming Chairman, while Congressman Rahall (WV) is next in line for Ranking Member. Of course, this is subject to change and is not official until the new Congress takes over in January.

Senate

Overall, the make-up of the Senate is expected to be 53 Democrats and 47 Republicans (the only race yet to be called is Alaska, where the Democrat has conceded), likely affecting the current partisan divide on committees. All Republican incumbents won re-election, and Republicans won all of their open seats, while Democrat incumbents Lincoln (AR) and Feingold (WI) lost and Democrats lost their open seats in North Dakota (Dorgan), Pennsylvania (Specter), Illinois (Burris), and Indiana (Bayh). Democrat incumbents in Nevada (Reid), California (Boxer), Colorado (Bennet), and Washington (Murray) survived close races. In the Senate’s transportation-related committees, most senators running for re-election prevailed.

Environment and Public Works Committee:

The two Democrats up for re-election, Boxer (CA) and Gillibrand (NY), both won their races. Senator Specter (PA) will not be returning, having lost his primary. The two Republicans running, Vitter (LA) and Crapo (ID), also won their seats. Senators Voinovich (OH) and Bond (MO) did not seek re-election.

Commerce Committee:

The two Democrats running for re-election, Inouye (HA) and Boxer (CA), both won their races. Senator Dorgan (ND) did not seek re-election. All four Republicans running, DeMint (SC), Thune (SD), Isakson (GA) and Vitter (LA), won their seats. Senator LeMieux (FL), appointed to replace Sen. Menendez when he retired, did not seek re-election. Senator Brownback (KS) was elected Governor of Kansas.

The final make-up of the congressional committees above remains to be seen, as the allotment of seats for each party must be determined after all the races are called. In addition, there may be further changes as some members decide to go to other committees. This information will be available after the 112th Congress convenes in January.

Consequences

The policy ramifications of this election are yet to be seen, as Republicans in the House of Representatives and at Statehouses around the country formulate their governing agendas for the next year. However, as their focus turns to fiscal restraint, there are indications that Republicans will look to cut current spending levels, putting funding transportation and infrastructure projects, and specifically high-speed rail projects, at risk.

For example, Ohio’s Governor-elect, John Kasich, has already made clear he will not fund or allow the construction of the proposed “3Cs” rail project connecting Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Opposition to high-speed rail has also been signaled by Florida’s Governor-elect Rick Scott. Moreover, Republican Governor-elects in other states, such as Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Mexico are facing budget shortfalls that may have a negative effect on prospects for high-speed rail construction in those states.

In the coming weeks and months as all the election results are finalized and the coming political and policy changes materialize, we will continue to keep you updated on how those changes are affecting transportation and infrastructure priorities and funding.