fbpx
Politics Foreign Affairs Culture Fellows Program

The Red Wave That Wasn’t

How GOP leadership snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

National,Harbor,,Md,-,March,6,,2014:,Senator,Mitch,Mcconnell
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)(By Christopher Halloran/Shutterstock)

It wasn’t the midterm result Republicans expected in the final weeks of the election. Aside from bright spots in Florida and Ohio, Republicans struggled. Dr. Mehmet Oz was humiliated by an invalid in Pennsylvania; Doug Mastriano humiliated himself.

Republican voters did their part. When one accumulates the popular vote for House races across the country, Republicans won by three percentage points—a margin that was once just under five points but narrowed as votes from deep-blue districts trickled in over weeks after Election Day. That kind of turnout for Republicans “would normally translate into GOP gains of 20-30 seats,” according to the Cook Political Report. But Republicans have as of early December netted only eight seats, bringing their total in the House to 220. At most, Republicans will hold 222. In races that seemed to be easy flips, Republicans flopped.

Comments

Become a Member today for a growing stake in the conservative movement.
Join here!
Join here