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
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
New York’s Democratic governor faces a stronger challenge than expected
The Republicans’ scare tactics are working
The races in numbers
The road to Senate control may run through Pennsylvania
Tracking one of America’s most closely watched midterm races
Our midterm predictions point to major gains for the Republicans
Why the sudden change in fortune?
How much do America’s voting-access reforms affect turnout?
The most divisive laws have the least impact
Why are America’s 2022 midterms so expensive?
Blame partisan polarisation, but not only
Strong GDP figures will not help the Democrats in the midterms
But not for the obvious reason
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