America’s 2022 midterm elections

Our coverage of the battle for the House and Senate


To the surprise of many pundits and pollsters, America’s midterm elections on November 8th delivered good news for the Democrats. That is unusual, in historical terms: at the half-way mark between presidential elections, voters routinely give the incumbent party a beating. But despite high inflation and low approval ratings for Joe Biden, the Republicans failed to flip the Senate and won control of the House with one of the smallest swings in years. It was all the more remarkable given that they had loudly attacked the left on crime and the economy—top-of-mind problems for many voters. The Democrats notched up some notable legislative achievements in 2022; the party’s message to voters was sharpened after a stunning decision by the Supreme Court to end America’s constitutional right to abortion. That seemed to go some way to energising voters on the left and right. See our results page for details.

Latest stories

Raphael Warnock wins in Georgia

And another of Donald Trump’s endorsees fails to convince the electorate

Quantifying the Trump effect

How Democrats held the Republicans to historically small midterms gains


The Democrats keep control of the Senate

Late victories in Nevada and Arizona deal another blow to the Republicans, and to Donald Trump


After the midterms, America and its democracy look stronger

On top of his other flaws, the former president is a serial vote loser

A Republican victory will be much smaller than Democrats feared

Several sorts of extremism may have prevented the party from securing a more convincing victory

How well did America’s pollsters do?

In a reverse of recent trends, they may have slightly underestimated Democrats

Many Republican election deniers lost their statewide races



The Republicans

Donald Trump has become more dangerous

As awful as it was, CNN’s town hall did the country a service by revealing the threat he presents

A disappointing showing for the Republicans in the midterms

Although the party is likely to flip the House, it underperformed by historical standards


Why a Republican ripple is more likely than a red wave

The opposition has only a slight advantage in the Senate, but will probably flip the House


Arizona’s midterm races are full of election deniers

Among them is the Republican Senate candidate, who is closing in on his rival


The Democrats

The Democrats have done better than expected

Not a Republican wave—more a weak little ripple

Oregon’s close governor’s race is a referendum on Portland

Worsening homelessness in Democratic strongholds is becoming a political liability


Democrats are polling best in states where surveys tend to misfire

Polls in right-leaning states have most overestimated support for Democrats recently



The races in numbers

The road to Senate control may run through Pennsylvania

Tracking one of America’s most closely watched midterm races


Lexington

Joe Biden should not seek re-election

He and the country have more to gain if he rises above the next presidential contest

What Democrats can learn from the midterm campaigns

Many of them have once again proved insensitive to voters’ fears


In North Carolina, racial politics remain inescapable

What one state Senate race says about America


What Donald Trump understands

He has a grim view of human nature, and he exploited it shrewdly—to a point


Guest commentary

Republicans should focus on kitchen-table issues, argues Governor Glenn Youngkin

He says Virginia is a case study when it comes to schools and jobs

A conversation with Stacey Abrams

Georgia’s gubernatorial candidate on election disputes, the state’s economy and abortion rights


Ro Khanna and Zach Wahls on how Democrats can win back factory towns

The two politicians place their hopes in economic policy


End life tenure for the Supreme Court’s judges, argues Eric Segall

The law professor says justices often claim the mantle of history—but mangle it