Midterm Elections 2018
Reporting, news analysis, commentary, polling, results from key races, and more
-
![]()
Alex Staroseltsev / Shutterstock The Real Metaphor of the ‘Blue Wave’
During the midterms, a small phrase suggested a bigger problem: America still isn’t sure how to talk to itself.
-
![]()
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP The GOP Just Lost Its Most Important Climate Moderates
Almost 20 Republican House members who seemed to care about climate change failed to win reelection.
-
-
![]()
Timothy D. Easley / AP The Questionable Year of the Teacher Politician
While claims that a record number of educators ran for office in 2018 may have been overstated, Tuesday night showed the political momentum at their back.
-
![]()
Christopher Aluka Berry / Reuters Oprah, Cousin Pookie, and the Long Tradition of Shaming Black Voters
Public figures have often urged black citizens to the polls by invoking ancestral trauma, but these exhortations seem to overlook the persistence of voter suppression.
-
![]()
William Campbell / Corbis / Getty Jon Tester Wins in Montana, Despite Trump’s Best Efforts
The Democratic senator’s victory shows that he still understands Montanans better than the president does.
-
![]()
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters Trump’s Evangelical Allies Really Didn’t Like Jeff Sessions
The ousted attorney general managed to alienate Christians across the political spectrum, even though he’s one of their own.
-
![]()
John Hart / Wisconsin State Journal via AP Democratic Governors Will Now Lead a Majority of Americans
The party picked up seven gubernatorial seats from Republicans while defending its own turf.
-
-
![]()
Justin Hayworth / AP Steve King Keeps Getting Reelected
The longtime Republican congressman has become notorious for his racist comments. The residents of Northwest Iowa voted for him anyway.
-
![]()
Alexander Drago / Reuters Four Ways Foreign Policy Could Change, and One Way It Won’t
Now that they have the House, Democrats may well force a shift in Washington’s approach to the world.
-
![]()
Mike Segar / Reuters The Republican Party Goes All-in on Trumpism
Strategists say the midterms won't prompt much introspection within the GOP—let alone a course correction.
-
![]()
Patrick Record / AP A Lesson From Montanans’ Vote to Tax Themselves to Fund Higher Education
At a time when Republican trust in college overall is low, voters tend to keep supporting their local schools.
-
![]()
Debra Reid / AP Endorsing Dead People Is a Shrewd Political Strategy
Races like Dennis Hof’s show that political parties often have plenty to gain and little to lose from backing deceased candidates.
-
-
![]()
Steve Marcus / Reuters The Question Facing Celebrities After the Midterms
Taylor Swift cheered on first-time voters. Will she also help them stay engaged after defeat?
-
![]()
Adria Malcolm / Reuters Beto’s Loss Was a Blessing in Disguise for Democrats
And other lessons of the 2018 midterm elections
-
![]()
Lawrence Bryant / Reuters Stacey Abrams Is Still Waiting for a Miracle
The battle over Georgia’s gubernatorial race might not be over anytime soon.
-
![]()
Colin Hackley / Reuters America's Problem Isn't Tribalism—It's Racism
Only one of America’s major political parties relies on stoking hatred and fear against those outside its coalition.
-
![]()
Robert F. Bukaty / AP The Democrats’ Most Radical Election Victory Was in the States
Their wins could help them secure national victories in the coming years.
-
-
![]()
Evan Vucci / AP / The Atlantic Trump Is About to Get a Rude Awakening
The president is portraying the results as a win, but Democratic control of the House could make his life miserable and kill his legislative agenda.
-
![]()
Carlos Barria / Reuters Tuesday Showed the Drawbacks of Trump's Electoral Bargain
Important segments of his coalition stood by him, but Democrats made inroads with urban and suburban white voters uncomfortable with his style and values.
-
![]()
Terray Sylvester / Reuters Florida Votes for Democracy
A supermajority of voters approved a change that will extend the franchise to more than 1 million people in a swing state where elections are regularly decided by razor-thin margins.
