Conservative Influence to Grow after Elections

If Democrats lose control of the House in next month’s elections, as many experts expect, conservatives will surely celebrate. But they may have plenty to cheer about even if Democrats manage to eke out a victory, The Hill reports.

That’s because the most conservative Democrats in the House would likely have outsized influence. “We would then be in a position where they would have to listen to us,” said one of those Democrats expected to win re-election, Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi.

The House could well look like the Senate of 2009-10, where the 60-vote filibuster rule gave moderates like Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., veto power over major issues, such as healthcare and financial reform.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., assuming she stays in office, would no longer feel free to ignore the views of dozens of centrist and conservative members.