Americans went to the polls last Tuesday and voted the Democratic Party back in control over the U.S. House and U.S Senate. Undoubtedly, the nation's disapproval of President Bush and the Iraq War - as well as fallout over the Rep. Mark Foley/congressional page sex scandal - caused a collective outrage among the American public that drove them to the polls intent on ousting the Republicans from power.

In Butler County, wins by Democrats came as little surprise.

Democrats swept local races as Kenny Harden claimed 54.65 percent of the vote to edge Republican challenger Clint Reaves, while incumbent probate judge Steve Norman beat Johnny Lee by 2,835 votes and Democratic nominee for coroner Wayne Garlock was unchallenged in his bid for election.

Also uncontested was Circuit Court Judge Edward McFerrin, Circuit Clerk Allen Stephenson, and District 90 State Representative Charles Newton. &#8220Walking” Wendell Mitchell's (D-Luverne) popularity - along with a negative advertising campaign that may have backfired against her - proved too much for Republican Joan Reynolds in the District 30 Senate race. In Butler County Mitchell received a little over 70 percent of the vote.

For Republicans in Alabama, the bright spot was that Gov. Bob Riley's record in the past four years earned himself a second term. Of note: Greenville's own Beth Chapman ousted Nancy Worley from the Secretary of State's office.

Also of note: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) is set to become the first ever-female Speaker of the House in Congress.

Meaning thanks to the public's generous confidence in Democratic legislators, the liberal-leaning Pelosi is just one assassin's bullet and one heart attack away from becoming the next President of the United States.