The 2018 election is finally over. Here's how Democrats, Republicans, and Trump fared.
The election of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Tuesday and belated victories of Democrats TJ Cox in California's 21st Congressional District and Anthony Brindisi in New York's 22nd District — both declared Wednesday — bring the 2018 midterms to an official close. Republicans will control the Senate by a 53 to 47 margin and Democrats flipped 40 seats to win a 235-200 majority in the House, the party's best showing since gaining 49 seats in 1974.
According to Dave Wasserman at the Cook Political Report, Democrats won 9.4 million more votes than Republicans in the House races, a margin of victory of 8.4 percent, with a record 60.1 million votes versus the GOP's 50.7 million. The incoming House includes 62 new Democrats (35 of them women) and 31 new Republicans (including one woman).
NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith tallied up how the final results look for President Trump, who played an active, defining role in the campaign. Trump's final score: 54 people he endorsed won, 46 lost.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If Trump batted above .500, California Republicans were decimated. With Cox's victory, Republicans will hold only seven of California's 53 House seats, the fewest since 1947, when California had only 23 seats, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg's Greg Giroux puts that in perspective:
The culling of California's GOP delegation is a particular blow to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — soon to be House minority leader — and you can read more about that at the Los Angeles Times.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
5 ballsy cartoons about the new White House ballroomCartoons Artists take on the White House Disneyland, a menu for the elites, and more
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How climate change poses a national security threatThe explainer A global problem causing more global problems
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
