# 1998 Midterm Elections Second-term [[Bill Clinton]] administration midterm — held during the **Monica Lewinsky scandal** that would lead to Clinton's December 1998 impeachment. **Democrats gained ~5 House seats** — a historically rare presidential-party midterm gain in a second-term cycle. The Republican congressional leadership had operationally campaigned on the Lewinsky scandal and the moral-political case for Clinton's removal; the result was popular repudiation. **Newt Gingrich resigned the Speakership** within a week of the election. ## Result - **House:** Democrats gained ~5 seats; Republicans held narrow majority (~223 of 435 Republicans vs. ~211 Democrats in the 106th Congress) - **Senate:** No net change (~55 of 100 Republicans vs. ~45 Democrats) - **Chambers flipped:** None — Republican control held but House majority narrowed - **Net change:** Historically rare second-term-presidential-party midterm gain ## Notable - **Newt Gingrich resigned the Speakership** within a week of the election after Republican-caucus revolt; **Bob Livingston** (LA) was elected to succeed him but withdrew December 1998 after disclosure of his own extramarital affairs; **Dennis Hastert** (IL) ultimately took the gavel January 1999 - **Clinton impeachment** by the House December 19, 1998 — second presidential impeachment in American history; Senate acquittal February 12, 1999 - 1998 is one of only **three modern American midterms** in which the presidential party gained House seats: 1934, 1998, 2002 - Russ Feingold (WI) re-elected — the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance partnership ongoing - John Edwards (NC) elected to Senate — future 2004 VP nominee ## Connections - [[Bill Clinton]] — Sitting president; impeached December 1998 but acquitted. - [[Newt Gingrich]] — Resigned as Speaker after the loss. - [[Clinton Impeachment]] — Followed the election by six weeks.