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By Jen DiMascio
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Armed Services tactical air and land force subcommittee, often chastised members of the Defense Department for setting policy tied to four-year presidential terms, and leaving members of Congress, who stayed in their jobs for the long term, to deal with the consequences.
On Nov. 7, after 19 years as a lawmaker, Weldon lost his bid for another term to retired Navy Rear Adm. Joe Sestak even in Marcus Hook, the borough where Weldon once served as mayor, according to the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Weldon's lopsided loss coincided with a wave of wins for the Democrats that changed the power balance of the House and may do the same in the Senate and has implications for change on both the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the House Appropriations defense subcommittee (HAC-D).
Incumbent Republicans on defense committees who lost their seats include Rep. John Hostettler (Ind.), Rep. Jim Ryan (Kan.), Rep. Jeb Bradley (N.H.) and Rep. Joe Schwartz (Mich.), who was knocked out earlier by a fellow Republican in the primary who went on to keep the seat in the GOP column.
But a handful of HASC Republicans retained their seats despite tough challenges. Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.) managed to eke out a victory against Phil Kellam, and challenger Larry Kissell was refusing to concede that Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C) had hung on to his seat. In addition, Doug Lamborn managed to hold the seat held by outgoing HASC member Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.).
By press time, the Connecticut race between Rep. Robert Simmons (R-Conn.) and Joe Courtney was still too close to call. But Rep. Christopher Shays...