November 2018 Elections Summary
Heading into the November 2018 midterm elections, U.S. House Republicans faced a difficult electoral climate caused by a large number of Republican retirements, an increasingly polarized electorate and anti-administration sentiment, among other factors.
As of Dec. 12, 2018, Democrats gained 39 seats, bringing their seat total to 234 in the U.S. House, with Republicans holding 298 seats. The election results were driven by early and strong voter turnout around the country, especially among women and in suburban and exurban regions.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats faced an extremely difficult electoral map, as most Democratic incumbents running for re-election were in states easily won by the president in 2016. As of Dec. 12, 2018, Republicans gained two seats in the Senate, with Democrats losing two. The partisan makeup of the chamber now is 53 Republicans to 45 Democrats.
At the state level, legislative chambers in Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York flipped from Republican to Democratic control.
Proposals to expand Medicaid succeeded in Idaho, Nebraska and Utah. However, only Idaho and Nebraska’s plans include adult dental benefits. With the election results, 37 states and the District of Columbia have opted for Medicaid expansion.
As of Dec. 12, 2018, Democrats gained 39 seats, bringing their seat total to 234 in the U.S. House, with Republicans holding 298 seats. The election results were driven by early and strong voter turnout around the country, especially among women and in suburban and exurban regions.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats faced an extremely difficult electoral map, as most Democratic incumbents running for re-election were in states easily won by the president in 2016. As of Dec. 12, 2018, Republicans gained two seats in the Senate, with Democrats losing two. The partisan makeup of the chamber now is 53 Republicans to 45 Democrats.
At the state level, legislative chambers in Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York flipped from Republican to Democratic control.
Proposals to expand Medicaid succeeded in Idaho, Nebraska and Utah. However, only Idaho and Nebraska’s plans include adult dental benefits. With the election results, 37 states and the District of Columbia have opted for Medicaid expansion.