Conservative swing! Udall, Hagan fall as US Republicans take control of the US Senate

Republicans take the Senate as voters swing to the right after Obama’s sixth year as President.

At 11:30pm, NBC News called the Senate race in Iowa for Republican Joni Ernst, handing control of the US Senate to the Republican Party, as voters handed a stinging defeat to President Barack Obama in mid-term elections held tonight across the United States.

In key Senate races, Republicans picked up seats in Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Colorado, West Virginia and Arkansas, and were in the lead in Louisiana in a race that is likely to head to a run-off. Polls are yet to close in Alaska.

Republican Pat Roberts pulled out a victory in a tight race against independent Greg Orman in Kansas, and Republicans held on in Georgia when David Perdue beat back a challenge from Michelle Nunn.

Republicans also prevailed in signature governor’s races in Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and Georgia, although Jerry Brown won a fourth term in California.

The Republicans also easily retained control of the House of Representatives, where they have been in the majority since January 2011.

Udall and Hagen defeats

The most prominent casualties of the night, in terms of the Advanced Bioeconomy, were Democrats Mark Udall of Colorado and Kay Hagen of North Carolina, whose crucial support in 2012 saved the Navy’s biofuels program. Udall fell to challenger Cory Gardner, while Hagan was upended by NC state house speaker Thom Tillis.

Udall played a critical role in preserving the Navy biofuels program. In November 2012, the US Senate voted 62-37 in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Udall to repeal section 313 of the annual Defense appropriations bill. Section 313 language, which was offered by Senator Inhofe and adopted in Committee, prohibits DOD from procuring alternative fuels if they cost more than their conventional counterparts.

In that same month, the Senate voted 54-41 in favor of a Hagan amendment to repeal section 2823 of the annual Defense appropriations bill. Sec. 2823 of the FY13 NDAA (S. 3524) would have prohibited the Secretary of Defense or any other official from the Department of Defense (DoD) from entering into a contract to plan, design, refurbish, or construct a biofuels refinery or any other facility or infrastructure used to refine biofuels unless such planning, design, refurbishment, or construction is specifically authorized by law.

Congressman Gardner is one of four members tapped by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton to take the lead on studying options for reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard. Gardner , John Shimkus of Illinois, Lee Terry of Nebraska, and Steve Scalise of Louisiana formed the Gang of Four.

Tillis offered support for biofuels during the sampaign, but Steven Burke, former President and CEO of Biofuels Center of North Carolina opined that “Statements from Speaker Tillis endorsing new energy ring hollow following his leadership’s elimination of North Carolina’s national model for biofuels development.”

Ernst defeats Braley in Iowa

In Iowa, state senator Joni Ernst defeated Congressman Bruce Braley in a closely-watched race.

Ernst on biofuels? The Senator-elect said recently: “The RFS is important to Iowa and our economy. I have always been a supporter of and an advocate for the RFS. As a rural candidate, the members of Iowa’s ag economy are my neighbors, friends and family. I have a 100% voting record on renewable fuels in the Iowa senate. I have a proven record. My opponents may try to confuse Iowans with spin, but facts are facts and alongside Gov. Branstad, LG Reynolds, Secretary Northey, I stand in strong support of the RFS.”  Ernst has suggested the elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency and announced her opposition to the 2014 Farm Bill. 

Back in July, Congressman Braley introduced the Country of Origin Labeling for Fuels Act that “would require gas stations to post the country of origin of the fuel right on the pump, putting purchasing power in the hands of consumers, who can then decide for themselves if they want to spend their money on domestic fuel or fuel that’s been imported from abroad,” as we reported at the time.

Braley blasted President Obama last November, suggesting that in an effort to pacify Big Oil, the President was betraying the Midwestern economy, long-standing US (and his own) energy policy, and those in the business community who relied on his support in making investments in renewable fuels. In a blistering letter, Braley told the President that he was “angered and frustrated” with the Administration’s dalliance with reductions in renewable fuel mandates. Braley called the reductions an “unprecedented pivot” from current energy policy that will severely damage economies all across the Midwest and endanger consumer choice at the pump for years to come.

GOP picks up Montana

In Montana, Republican Steve Daines picked up retiring Democratic Senator Max Baucus’ seat, and Republican Shelley Moore Capito picked up the seat formerly held by retiring Democratic Senator John D. Rockefeller.

Pryor falls in Arkansas

The first major Democratic casualty of the night was Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, who made headlines in the advanced bioeconomy when he joined Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) in sponsoring the “Renewable Fuels Standard Repeal Act” (S. 1195) in June. The bill would have repealed the entire RFS.

Conversely in the spring 2013, Pryor joined Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), have introduced the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2013. They authored the legislation so that American-made, home-grown forest products can qualify for the USDA’s BioPreferred program.

Shaheen re-elected in New Hampshire

Following a tough race in New Hampshire, incumbent Senator Jeanne Shaheen survived a challenge from former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.

Back in 2012, amidst scathing headlines regarding the Great Green Fleet Demonstration, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) published an article in Politico criticizing Congress’s push back on the Pentagon’s efforts in the alternative fuel arena.
Corbett falls in Pennsylvania

Rounds wins open seat in South Dakota

In South Dakota, former state governor Mike Rounds won a Senate seat, in a thumping victory over Democratic candidate Rick Welland. On biofuels, Rounds touts a “North American” solution to dependence on foreign energy, saying that “all forms of domestic energy should be pursued but does not support the President’s current energy policy attacking traditional energy sources” that, Rounds contends, “will cost the average American family about $140 more per month than they’re currently paying.”

On E15 ethanol blends, Rounds in 2009 wrote that “”Increasing the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline is an important step that will have dramatic, positive effects on advancement of the renewable fuels industry,” South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds said. “In addition to economic benefits, increased use of ethanol and biofuels will lead to greater energy independence by utilizing homegrown commodities, materials and technologies.”