The Democrats' focus on income inequality probably helped... Republicans

The Obama economy has mostly helped the rich. They repaid him by voting for the other party.

David Perdue
(Image credit: (Jason Getz/Getty Images))

The economy was the top issue in the 2014 midterms, as it often is in American elections, according to exit polls.

And you might think that would have helped Democrats. On the one hand, the U.S. economy has rebounded significantly in recent years, with the stock market on a steady upward climb over Obama's five-plus years in office. The economy has expanded, unemployment has fallen, and many other important indicators are up too, as this chart from The Wall Street Journal shows:

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.