--- title: Here Are 9 Lessons from the 2018 Midterm Elections description: There was no single breakthrough message from Tuesday's midterms, in which Democrats gain control of the House but lost several major races. canonical: https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-11-07T19:27:34.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T08:05:35.761Z article:section: Politics og:title: Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections og:description: No. 1: The 2020 campaign starts today, and it's going to be crazy og:url: https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9506817626c0fd9/69893e81ab6d77f7496b41f2/trump-warns-dems-investigation.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: trump-warns-dems-investigation og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections twitter:description: No. 1: The 2020 campaign starts today, and it's going to be crazy twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9506817626c0fd9/69893e81ab6d77f7496b41f2/trump-warns-dems-investigation.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=eae08184-7a7b-4dfd-a842-3a8b81e120d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: 2018 Midterm Elections: The Democratic Resistance [Watch (HLS stream): 2018 Midterm Elections: The Democratic Resistance](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/pOQrdNnY.m3u8) (3:18)  _Published 2018-11-07. The 2018 midterm elections see a record numbers of voters, a flip of the house, and many firsts for women elected to office._ by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Nov 7, 2018 7:27 PM UTC The 2018 midterm elections see a record numbers of voters, a flip of the house, and many firsts for women elected to office. by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Nov 7, 2018 7:27 PM UTC There was no single breakthrough message from Tuesday’s midterms. In a split decision at the congressional level, Democrats won the House decisively, while Republicans padded their margin in the Senate. But looking closely at the results, several lessons stand out on where American politics is headed next. Here’s a closer look at nine takeaways from the midterm election results. ## The 2020 campaign starts today, and it’s going to be crazy President Trump wasn’t on the ballot Tuesday night, but he may as well have been. From suburban House districts where voters rebelled, to red states where they rallied behind him, Trump remained the center of the storm. His last-minute attacks on a migrant caravan and musings about birthright citizenship ensured that immigration was a hot topic for Republican voters. The president already [raised more than $100 million](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/politics/president-trump-fundraising-surpasses-one-hundred-million/index.html) for his re-election campaign, while the midterms showed the power of Democratic small donors. **Read More:** [_Democrats Win the House, But Fall Short of Decisive Rebuke_](http://time.com/5447422/midterm-elections-2018-democrats/) ## ‘Panera Republicans’ are defecting from the party The path to a Democratic majority in the House ran through congressional districts where you’re likely to find a lot of people getting coffee and a sandwich at a place like Panera Bread. Democratic candidates beat Republican incumbents in suburbs on the outskirts of major U.S. cities in Virginia, New York and Minnesota. That is partly due to changes in American suburbs, which are more diverse than they used to be, and partly due to Trump’s strategy of aiming for his base, which works better in conservative and rural areas. **Read More:** [_How Women Candidates Changed American Politics in 2018_](http://time.com/5446556/congress-women-pink-wave/) ## Democrats are rebuilding their bench, but they lack stars Democrats pinned their homes on three marquee candidates: [Beto O’Rourke in Texas](http://time.com/5444357/ted-cruz-senate-midterms-results/), [Andrew Gillum in Florida](http://time.com/5445200/ron-desantis-florida-governors-election-results/) and [Stacey Abrams in Georgia](http://time.com/5447595/stacey-abrams-brian-kemp-georgia-governor-runoff/). O’Rourke and Gillum lost Tuesday and Abrams is trailing, but vowing to fight for a run-off. At the same time, first-time Democratic candidates won down-ballot races for state legislatures and the House of Representatives, rebuilding after years of sustained losses during the Obama Administration. For some of those candidates, Tuesday’s elections were just the beginning of long and varied careers. **Read More:** [_Ted Cruz Wins Fight for Political Survival Over Beto O’Rourke_](http://time.com/5444357/ted-cruz-senate-midterms-results/) ## The electoral map is changing, but it’s not clear yet entirely how Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine’s easy win in Virginia proved that it’s now pretty much a blue state, while Republicans’ near-total romp in Ohio showed that it may be turning red. Meantime, close statewide races in Arizona, Georgia and Texas indicated that they may become swing states sooner rather than later. And Democratic wins in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania raised questions about whether Trump can repeat his narrow wins there in 2020. **Read More:** [_Democrat Defeats Scott Walker in Wisconsin Governor Race_ ](http://time.com/5447489/tony-evers-elected-wisconsin-governor/) ## The demographics of the two parties are diverging starkly This year’s midterms included [a lot of firsts](https://www.npr.org/2018/11/07/665118634/the-midterm-elections-have-made-history-with-these-notable-firsts): Jared Polis became the first openly gay man elected governor; Sharice Davids and Debra Haaland the first Native American women elected to Congress; and Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first Muslim women in Congress. All are Democrats. While Republicans also had some firsts — first female governor of South Dakota, first female senator from Tennessee — the Democratic wins [showed a party that is embracing diversity](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/10/trump-midterms-and-coming-interparty-battle/573961/), in stark contrast to the GOP. **Read More:** [_Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Just Became the First Muslim Women Elected to Congress_](http://time.com/5445303/ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-midterm/) ## Red and blue states’ approaches to voting is also diverging Red states made voting harder Tuesday, as voters in North Carolina and Arkansas approved voter ID requirements. At the same time, blue states made voting easier, with Nevada approving automatic voter registration and Maryland backing same-day voter registration. In Michigan, voters approved a suite of provisions including same-day voter registration, straight-party voting and no-excuse absentee voting. Meantime, in the swing state of Florida, voters approved [restoring the voting rights](http://time.com/5447051/florida-amendment-4-felon-voting/) of 1.4 million residents who have been convicted of a felony and served their time. **Read More:** [_Voting Itself Was on the Ballot Tuesday. Red and Blue States Went Different Ways_](http://time.com/5446908/voting-rights-ballot-measure-results/) ## Voters don’t mind politicians accused of crimes Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey [faced a federal corruption trial](http://time.com/5445597/bob-menendez-midterms-results/) in 2017\. Republican Rep. Chris Collins of New York was [recently indicted](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/rep-chris-collins-charged-with-insider-trading-projected-to-win.html) on federal insider trading charges. Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California was [recently indicted](https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/california-house-district-50) on charges of abusing campaign funds. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton [faces felony charges](https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/politics/article/Attorney-General-Ken-Paxton-Justin-Nelson-too-13368813.php) of securities fraud and failing to register as an investment adviser. That didn’t matter. All of them won re-election. **Read More:** [_How President Trump Helped a Democrat Win in New Jersey_](http://time.com/5445597/bob-menendez-midterms-results/) ## Voters like pot and state lawmakers like the revenue it raises Michigan became the 10th state in the country and the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana and Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer said she will consider [expunging criminal records](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/11/07/gretchen-whitmer-considers-forgiving-marijuana-crimes-michigan/1919044002/) for people convicted of marijuana crimes in the past. Voters in Missouri and Utah, meantime, legalized medical marijuana, while legal marijuana advocate Jared Polis won Colorado’s governorship. The lone exception: North Dakota, where a recreational marijuana ballot measure failed. **Read More:** [_Marijuana Did Well on the Ballot Tuesday_](http://time.com/5447176/recreational-marijuana-ballot-measures-results/) ## Red state lawmakers may not like Medicaid, but their voters do After state lawmakers balked at expanding Medicaid, voters in the red states of Idaho, Nebraska and Utah took matters into their own hands, [approving ballot measures](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/three-deep-red-states-vote-to-expand-medicaid/2018/11/07/6586ae58-e1dc-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.617ea9e99a0d) that would offer the state-and-federal health insurance program to more low-income adults. In Maine, voters elected Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Mills after the outgoing Republican Gov. Paul LePage blocked a legislatively approved expansion for a year. **Read More:** [_The One Issue Unifying Americans Is Affordable Health Care_](http://time.com/5441430/affordable-health-care-midterm-elections/) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] And what's been regarded as one of the most important midterms in a generation. A deeply divided America turned up to vote for the country's midterm elections on November 6th for Congress, governors and state and local legislators. The vote in many ways is a referendum on President Trump's unconventional presidential style, his America First agenda and his bid to take the Republican party in a radically more nationalistic direction. After a divisive 2016 Democratic primary, Trump's inauguration sparked a movement to organize the Democratic base. Well, followed were the women's marches, the largest single- day mass demonstration in US history. The President's divisive rhetoric re- energized a string of liberal organizing that drew crowds to the countries' airport to reject Trump's travel ban. And many more gathered to protest the attempted repeal of Obamacare. The political awakening swelled into a record number of women and minorities running for office in the country's midterms. And rallying cries from both President Trump, and former President Barack Obama, two celebrity appeals produce startlingly high, early high voter turned out at long line on election day. With the election producing historic results. The Democrats took control of the House picking up the 26 House seats previously held by Republicans to gain that chamber. The victory means that Trump will now lose the governing majority he's enjoyed for the first two years of his presidency. The Republicans cap the Senate. The results will also likely mean more legislative gridlock and additional pressure to push investigations into the President's ties with Russia. The Democrats resistance to Trump worked and election night marked a series of first for the nation. Numbers are still being tallied but we may for the first time have a 100 women elected to the House. Including Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Abby Finkenauer who became the youngest congresswoman ever elected to office. 10 female senators were elected including republican Marsha Blackburn who became the state's first woman senator. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim women in congress. Omar is now Minnesota's first woman of color elected to congress. The Democrats' hope of an overwhelming blue wave fell short when they were unable to seize control of the Senate. Losing key races in Texas, Missouri, North Dakota, and Indiana. Republicans' allegiance to Trump paid off, and the party was able to gain two Senate seats to hold their majority there. But while the results do share the limitations of the Democratic party's geographic reach, the 2018 election map heavily favored Senate Republicans, with ten Democrats up for re- election in states that Trump won by double digits in 2016. Despite the Republicans' loss of the House, President Donald Trump claimed tremendous success on Twitter. So as both parties made clear strides amongst a divided voter base, what did the 2018 midterms foreshadow for the 2020 presidential elections? A presidential election is always different from a midterm election, just because when you by definition have A single candidate at the top that's got to craft a message that can appeal to all of those voters, so it's gonna be exciting to see how the 2020 presidential candidates thread that needle. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/"},"headline":"Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections","datePublished":"2018-11-07T19:27:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-13T08:05:35.761Z","description":"No. 1: The 2020 campaign starts today, and it's going to be crazy","url":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/","keywords":["2018 Elections","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9506817626c0fd9/69893e81ab6d77f7496b41f2/trump-warns-dems-investigation.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ryan Teague Beckwith","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9506817626c0fd9/69893e81ab6d77f7496b41f2/trump-warns-dems-investigation.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"trump-warns-dems-investigation","caption":"US President Donald Trump speaks during a post-election press conference","creditText":"Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2018-elections/","name":"2018 Elections"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/","name":"Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"2018 Midterm Elections: The Democratic Resistance","description":"The 2018 midterm elections see a record numbers of voters, a flip of the house, and many firsts for women elected to office.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/pOQrdNnY/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2018-11-07T21:42:16.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/pOQrdNnY.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/","duration":"PT3M18S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```