What Happened to the “Red Wave”?

That was the question on everyone’s minds as it became clear that Democrats bucked historical trends and produced surprising electoral wins this midterm election cycle. This led the party to hold on to its majority in the Senate while keeping Republican gains to a minimum in the House. (At time of writing Republicans will have a razor-thin 9-seat House majority starting in January 2023.)

In reality, the predicted “red wave” was more of a “red ripple.” This election was less of a “wave” that shifted many states in a single direction, and instead produced more of a “ripple” that relied on centers of Republican power to expand their influence outward. On the opposite side of the coin many Democratic states saw the same effect: the party was able to produce wins and gain territory in regions that the party already held considerable power.

Below is a review of Battleground’s 2022 midterm elections results coverage so far, focusing specifically on states that experienced this “red ripple.” (Later this week, I’ll do another roundup of the aforementioned Democratic states.)

2022 Midterm Results Coverage

IOWA

• Iowa has morphed into a red state, voting 12 points to the right of the nation in the 2020 presidential election. Its political realignment has challenged Democrats for the better part of a decade, leading the party to revoke its “First in the Nation” caucus.

MONTANA

• Republicans picked up Montana’s new congressional seat while also making history in the state legislature: the party held on to super-majorities in both state-level chambers by electing 103 Republicans, the most in state history to serve on the legislature at once.

IDAHO

• Republicans were expected to sweep Idaho’s races but many were surprised by voters’ strong support of far-right independent candidates.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Republicans held on to all of their US House seats in South Carolina, in part because Democrats failed to nominate candidates in two House districts.