In the 2018 elections, the Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, won control of the House. The Democrats gained a net total of 41 seats from the total number of seats they had won in the 2016 elections. The 41-seat gain was the Democrats' largest gain of House seats since the post-Watergate1974 elections, when they picked up 49 seats. This was the first time since 1954 that Democrats flipped a chamber of Congress in a Republican president's first midterm. Democrats also won the popular vote by an 8.6% margin, the largest margin of victory for any party during a midterm election since 1986.
Upon the opening of the 116th Congress, Pelosi was elected as Speaker of the House.[5] Incumbent Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan chose not to run for another term.[6] In November 2018, House Republicans elected Kevin McCarthy as House Minority Leader.[7]
The House Republicans' passage of the widely unpopular American Health Care Act of 2017 to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as well as opposition to Trump's policies, his poor approval ratings, and questions about his personal stamina for office, are credited for the Democratic takeover of the House.
The Democratic Party won control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. The Democrats gained a net total of 41 seats from the total number of seats they had won in the 2016 elections. This was their largest gain of House seats in an election since the 1974 elections, when the Democrats gained 49 House seats.[8][9][10][11] Democrats won the popular vote by more than 9.7 million votes, or 8.6%,[12] the largest midterm margin for any party[13] and the largest margin on record for a minority party.[14]
According to the Associated Press' statistical analysis, gerrymandering cost the Democrats an additional sixteen House seats from Republicans.[15]
Voter turnout in this election was 50.3%,[1] the highest turnout in a U.S. midterm election since 1914.[16]
Net changes to U.S. House seats after the 2018 elections +1 Dem House Seat +2 Dem House seats +3–4 Dem House seats +7 Dem House seats Both parties won 2 seats and lost 2 seats, no net change.
Results shaded according to winning candidate's share of the vote
Retirements
In the November general elections, 55 incumbents did not seek re-election, some of whom sought other elected office.
Oklahoma 1: Jim Bridenstine announced his retirement November 10, 2017. He resigned April 23, 2018, after being confirmed as Administrator of NASA; his replacement was seated November 6, 2018.
Vacancies during the 115th Congress that did not result in a special election
3 Republicans, all of whom already announced their retirement, resigned early
Florida 6: Ron DeSantis resigned on September 10, 2018, retroactive to September 1, to focus on his campaign for Governor of Florida.[41][42] This seat was then left vacant until the 116th Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2019.
Oklahoma 1: Jim Bridenstine resigned on April 23, 2018, to become head of NASA.[43] This seat was then left vacant until Kevin Hern was sworn in early on November 13, 2018, having won the regularly scheduled November 6, 2018 election for the next full term.[44][45]
Source: Edison Research exit poll for the National Election Pool[49]
Election dates
For the regularly scheduled November elections.
Alabama
The state congressional delegation remained the same, at 6–1 for Republicans.
Alaska
Republicans maintained control of the sole seat in the state.
Arizona
The state congressional delegation flipped from a 5–4 Republican majority to a 5–4 Democratic majority.
Arkansas
The state congressional delegation remained the same with a 4–0 Republican majority.
California
The Democratic majority increased from 39–14 to 46–7.
Colorado
The state congressional delegation flipped from a 4–3 Republican majority to a 4–3 Democratic majority.
Connecticut
The state congressional delegation remained unchanged at 5–0 Democrats.
Delaware
Democrats retained control of the sole seat in the state.
Florida
The Republican majority was reduced from 16–11 to 14–13.
Georgia
The Republican majority was reduced from 10–4 to 9–5.
Hawaii
Hawaii maintained its 2-0 Democratic hold.
Idaho
Idaho maintained its 2-0 Republican hold.
Illinois
The Democratic majority increased from 11–7 to 13–5.
Indiana
The Republican majority remained at 7–2.
Iowa
Iowa's delegation flipped from a 3–1 Republican majority to a 3–1 Democratic majority.
Kansas
The Republican majority slipped from 4–0 to 3–1.
Kentucky
Republicans maintained their 5–1 majority.
Louisiana
All incumbents were re-elected, and Republicans maintained their 5–1 majority.
Maine
The 1–1 tie became a 2–0 Democratic hold. This was the first use of ranked choice voting to decide a House race.
Maryland
Democrats maintained their 7–1 majority.
Massachusetts
Democrats maintained their 9–0 hold.
Michigan
The delegation flipped from a 9–5 Republican majority to a 7–7 split.
Minnesota
Although half of the seats switched parties, Democrats maintained the same 5–3 majority.
Mississippi
The Republicans maintained their 3–1 majority in the state.
Missouri
The Republicans maintained their 6-2 seat majority.
Montana
Republicans maintained control of the lone house seat.
Nebraska
Republicans maintained their 3–0 majority.
Nevada
Democrats maintained their 3–1 majority.
New Hampshire
The Democrats maintained control of both house seats.
New Jersey
The state congressional delegation changed from 7–5 for Democrats to 11–1 for Democrats.
New Mexico
The state congressional delegation changed from 2–1 for Democrats to all 3 seats controlled by Democrats.
New York
Democrats increased their seat majority in New York's congressional delegation from 18–9 to 21–6.
North Carolina
Due to allegations of electoral fraud, the 116th Congress was sworn in with one seat vacant.[84][85] On February 21, 2019, a new election was ordered by the state election board.[86]
North Dakota
Republicans maintained control of the sole house seat.
Ohio
The state congressional delegation remained the same at 12–4 for Republicans.
Oklahoma
The state congressional delegation changed from 5–0 for Republicans to a 4–1 Republican majority.
Oregon
The state congressional delegation remained the same, with a 4–1 Democratic majority.
Pennsylvania
As a result of changes in the congressional map, the state congressional delegation changed from a 13–5 Republican majority to a 9–9 split.
Rhode Island
The state congressional delegation remained unchanged at 2–0 for Democrats.
South Carolina
The state congressional delegation changed from 6–1 for Republicans to 5–2 for Republicans.
South Dakota
Republicans retained control of the sole seat in the state.
Tennessee
Republicans maintained their 7-2 seat majority.
Texas
The state congressional delegation changed from a 25–11 Republican majority to a 23–13 Republican majority.
Utah
The state congressional delegation changed from 4–0 for Republicans to a 3–1 Republican majority.
Vermont
The Democrats maintained control of the sole seat in the state.
Virginia
The state congressional delegation flipped from a 7–4 Republican majority to a 7–4 Democratic majority.
Washington
Democrats increased their seat majority from 6–4 to 7–3.
West Virginia
The state congressional delegation remained the same at 3–0 for Republicans.
Wisconsin
Republicans maintained their 5-3 seat majority.
Wyoming
Republicans maintained control of the sole seat in the state.
The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is not up for re-election until 2020.[106] Currently held by RepublicanJenniffer González, who was first elected in 2016, the Resident Commissioner is the only member of the United States House of Representatives to serve a four-year term.[106]
^ This figure represents the difference between the number of Democrats seated when the 116th Congress convened in January 2019 (235) and the number of Democrats seated when the 115th Congress convened in January 2017 (194).
^ This figure represents the difference between the number of Republicans seated when the 116th Congress convened in January 2019 (199) and the number of Republicans seated when the 115th Congress convened in January 2017 (241).
^ This seat was the tipping point seat for a Democratic majority.
^ a b c All races were decided on the initial primary date, eliminating the need for a runoff.
^Louisiana will hold runoff election(s) on December 8, 2018, for any race in which no one candidate wins a majority of the vote in the November jungle primary.
^Galvin won the Democratic nomination as an "Undeclared" candidate. She would be listed on the ballot as "Undeclared" and the nominee of the Democratic Party.
^On September 24, 2018, the Democratic nominee in Florida's 17th congressional district, April Freeman, died. On October 1, 2018, Ellison was announced as her replacement on the ballot.
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