According to a
recent article, "[t]he poll's most unusual finding is that six-in-ten Republicans, even after their party lost 40 seats and control of the House, join thirds of Democrats in calling the mid-term elections positive for the country. After the Democratic Party suffered similar wipeouts in 1994 and 2010, majorities of Democrats felt negatively about the outcomes."
With a 40 seat house pick up, I can see no other choice that the Democrats won the midterms in a big fashion. Call it a blue wave. The classic definition of a wave election is when one party gains 30 or more seats and regains control of the house. That is exactly what happened.
We've actually had four wave elections, 1994 Republicans gain 54 seats and control of the house for the first time in 40 years. 2006 when the Democrats gained 33 seats and regained control of the house. 2010, a 63 seat pick up for the Republicans and gaining the house once again. Then this year's 40 seat pickup for the Democrats.
We've had 3 wave elections by the classic definition in 12 years, four since 1994. Prior to 1994, you have to go all the way back to 1948 for the next wave election. A span of 46 years between wave election. What's amazing about right after WWII you had two wave elections in a row, 1946 when the Republican picked up 56 seats and 1948 when the democrats pickup 75 seats.
So why so many wave elections recently? 3 in 12 years or 4 in 24. Could it be the rise in independents, the swing voter who are not affiliated with either major party. In 1946 and 48 independents made up 23% of the total electorate. In 1994 independents had increased to 33% as the two major parties shrunk. 2006 independents remained at 33%, increased to 37% in 2010 and now stand at 41% today. That a lot more folks who can swing back and forth as they have been known to do.
So the next question, why no wave election between 1948 and 1994? Probably because prior to the 1990's both parties had their liberal and conservative wings. The Republicans their liberal Rockefeller Republicans of the Northeast, the democrats their conservative solid south. Today one party was moved to the far right, the other to the far left which creates a gulf, a canyon effect. When the Republicans take over, they try to shift the country to the far right. When the democrats take over, they try to take the country to the far left.
1994 the Democrats controlled all branches of government, congress went Republican. But were held in check by President Bill Clinton from moving too far right. Under Bush, no such restraint. 2006 happened when the GOP controlled both the congress and presidency. 2010 happened when the democrats controlled both the presidency and congress. Independents rebellion against a push too far right in 2006 and too far left in 2010.
2018, a rebellion against Trump. What do you think? The Republican had controlled both congress and the presidency. Not any more.