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Midterm Elections 2018

Coverage of the 2018 midterm elections: the House, Senate, ballot initiatives, and more.

Midterm Elections 2018
The strange argument that Democrats actually lost the midterms, debunkedThe strange argument that Democrats actually lost the midterms, debunked
Midterm Elections 2018

What centrists like Nick Kristof and Bret Stephens get wrong about the midterms.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Prominent Republicans push baseless conspiracy theories about Florida Senate electionProminent Republicans push baseless conspiracy theories about Florida Senate election
Politics

Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Rick Scott, and Marco Rubio are all suggesting nefarious forces are at work.

By Aaron Rupar
Politics
The Senate is a huge problem for DemocratsThe Senate is a huge problem for Democrats
Politics

And it’s not going to get better soon.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
Brian Kemp finally steps down from administering the election he ran inBrian Kemp finally steps down from administering the election he ran in
Politics

Kemp resigned as Georgia secretary of state one day after declaring victory in the state’s close governor’s race. Votes are still being counted.

By P.R. Lockhart
Future Perfect
Trump has eroded important democratic institutions. Will Democratic wins change that?Trump has eroded important democratic institutions. Will Democratic wins change that?
Future Perfect

Democrats won the midterms. But Republicans might have learned that undermining elections works.

By Dylan Matthews
Climate
Governors could drive the next wave of climate change actionGovernors could drive the next wave of climate change action
Climate

With Congress divided, newly elected Democrat governors are poised to charge ahead with clean energy.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
6 years ago her son was murdered. Now Lucy McBath is heading to Congress.6 years ago her son was murdered. Now Lucy McBath is heading to Congress.
Politics

The gun control advocate and “Mother of the Movement” unseats Republican Karen Handel in Georgia’s Sixth District.

By P.R. Lockhart
World Politics
The world was watching the 2018 midterms. Here’s how some countries responded.The world was watching the 2018 midterms. Here’s how some countries responded.
World Politics

Leaders are waiting to see if and how a divided government might change Trump foreign policy.

By Jen Kirby
Politics
The GOP can’t rely on white evangelicals foreverThe GOP can’t rely on white evangelicals forever
Politics

White evangelicals are still Trump’s base. But they’re in decline.

By Tara Isabella Burton
Politics
With Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, West Virginia and Alabama are ready to ban abortionWith Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, West Virginia and Alabama are ready to ban abortion
Politics

On Tuesday, they joined four other states whose “trigger bans” take effect if Roe v. Wade falls.

By Anna North
Midterm Elections 2018
Would ex-felon voting rights have flipped Florida for Democrats? It’s possible.Would ex-felon voting rights have flipped Florida for Democrats? It’s possible.
Midterm Elections 2018

Amendment 4 restored voting rights for people with felony records. That could have flipped the state.

By German Lopez
Politics
With Democrats in control of the House, Nancy Pelosi is “confident” she’ll be the next speakerWith Democrats in control of the House, Nancy Pelosi is “confident” she’ll be the next speaker
Politics

With a successful election behind her, Pelosi is about to make her case to lead House Democrats.

By Ella Nilsen
Politics
Progressive Democrats in competitive House districts had a bad nightProgressive Democrats in competitive House districts had a bad night
Politics

Progressive energy helped moderate Democrats win on election night. But progressive candidates weren’t so lucky.

By Ella Nilsen
Politics
Muslim women, Native Americans, and LGBTQ candidates had a night of historic winsMuslim women, Native Americans, and LGBTQ candidates had a night of historic wins
Politics

Voters in the 2018 midterms chose to elect candidates who look, worship, and love like them.

By Caroline Houck
Gun Violence
The 2018 midterm elections may have exposed a shift on gun controlThe 2018 midterm elections may have exposed a shift on gun control
Gun Violence

Gun control advocates didn’t get every win they wanted, but there were some big victories.

By German Lopez
Midterm Elections 2018
What the 2018 midterms mean for the Democrats’ gerrymandering dilemmaWhat the 2018 midterms mean for the Democrats’ gerrymandering dilemma
Midterm Elections 2018

It was a good night for Democrats, but not good enough.

By Sean Illing
Video
What happens when women win electionsWhat happens when women win elections
Play
Video

The 2018 midterms were huge for women candidates. Here’s how they could change policy.

By Danush Parvaneh
Politics
Voters just gave nearly 1 million workers a raise in 2 red statesVoters just gave nearly 1 million workers a raise in 2 red states
Politics

Ballot measures to raise the minimum wage had widespread support in Arkansas and Missouri.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Scandal-plagued Republican Duncan Hunter wins with an Islamophobic campaignScandal-plagued Republican Duncan Hunter wins with an Islamophobic campaign
Politics

Hunter is under federal indictment on charges of campaign fraud.

By Tara Golshan
Politics
Marijuana legalization had a pretty good election nightMarijuana legalization had a pretty good election night
Politics

Full legalization won in Michigan, and medical legalization won in Missouri and Utah.

By German Lopez
Politics
Watch Trump shout down a black reporter asking him about racismWatch Trump shout down a black reporter asking him about racism
Politics

“That’s a racist question,” Trump said to PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Republican Josh Hawley defeats Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri Senate raceRepublican Josh Hawley defeats Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri Senate race
Politics

McCaskill’s loss in Missouri is a serious blow to Senate Democrats.

By Ella Nilsen
Politics
Kentucky clerk Kim Davis denied same-sex couples marriage licenses. She just lost reelection.Kentucky clerk Kim Davis denied same-sex couples marriage licenses. She just lost reelection.
Politics

Davis gained national notoriety for refusing to give marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

By German Lopez
Politics
Here are the governor seats Democrats have flipped so far in the 2018 electionsHere are the governor seats Democrats have flipped so far in the 2018 elections
Politics

Every governor seat Democrats have flipped in the midterm elections, in one post.

By Li Zhou and Emily Stewart
Politics
Sen. Bill Nelson will ask for a recount in Florida race against Rick ScottSen. Bill Nelson will ask for a recount in Florida race against Rick Scott
Politics

Scott’s lead is within the window for an automatic recount.

By Emily Stewart
Future Perfect
California and Florida both pass animal welfare laws by a landslideCalifornia and Florida both pass animal welfare laws by a landslide
Future Perfect

Voters chose to require more space for farmed animals and to end commercial greyhound racing.

By Kelsey Piper
Midterm Elections 2018
Missouri voters just hiked the minimum wage by 53 percentMissouri voters just hiked the minimum wage by 53 percent
Midterm Elections 2018

More than 600,000 low-wage workers will get a raise.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Debbie Stabenow reelected to the SenateDebbie Stabenow reelected to the Senate
Politics

The blue wave crashes hard in Michigan.

By Matthew Yglesias
Politics
New Mexico elects Michelle Lujan Grisham as first Democratic Latina governor in the USNew Mexico elects Michelle Lujan Grisham as first Democratic Latina governor in the US
Politics

Education, not immigration, was the top issue for voters in this border state.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
North Dakota votes against marijuana legalization, rejecting Measure 3North Dakota votes against marijuana legalization, rejecting Measure 3
Politics

The measure was an attempt to get marijuana legalization in a conservative state. It failed.

By German Lopez
Politics
Coca-Cola and Pepsi’s deceptive tactic to stop soda taxes worked in Washington stateCoca-Cola and Pepsi’s deceptive tactic to stop soda taxes worked in Washington state
Politics

A ban on future soda taxes was approved under the guise of a “Yes! To Affordable Groceries” campaign.

By Julia Belluz
Politics
After months of attacks for his old rap career, Antonio Delgado is headed to CongressAfter months of attacks for his old rap career, Antonio Delgado is headed to Congress
Politics

The New York Democrat defeated incumbent Rep. John Faso on Tuesday.

By P.R. Lockhart
Politics
Russia is unhappy the Democrats won the HouseRussia is unhappy the Democrats won the House
Politics

The 2018 US midterm election results are in — and Russia feels like it lost.

By Alex Ward
Politics
Republican Mike DeWine elected governor of OhioRepublican Mike DeWine elected governor of Ohio
Politics

In a contentious battle for the seat, DeWine defeated Democrat Richard Cordray to retain the governor’s mansion under GOP control.

By Stavros Agorakis
It’s official: Democrats will control the House
Politics

It’s a return to power after eight years in the minority.

By Ella Nilsen
Gun Violence
Washington votes to strengthen gun laws with Initiative 1639Washington votes to strengthen gun laws with Initiative 1639
Gun Violence

It was the only state ballot measure on guns this year — and it won.

By German Lopez
Politics
Abigail Spanberger elected to US House of Representatives: a Democrat just ousted a Tea Party starAbigail Spanberger elected to US House of Representatives: a Democrat just ousted a Tea Party star
Politics

Dave Brat, once the face of the conservative insurgency, has lost reelection.

By Tara Golshan
Politics
Colorado passes Amendment A, voting to officially abolish prison slaveryColorado passes Amendment A, voting to officially abolish prison slavery
Politics

Two years after a similar amendment failed, voters approved a measure that will remove state language allowing forced prison labor without pay.

By P.R. Lockhart
Midterm Elections 2018
California voters reject the tyranny of daylight saving clock changesCalifornia voters reject the tyranny of daylight saving clock changes
Midterm Elections 2018

Now, will the state legislature?

By Brian Resnick
Politics
“Sit down ... you’re a terrible person”: Trump unloads on reporters during ugly news conference“Sit down ... you’re a terrible person”: Trump unloads on reporters during ugly news conference
Play
Politics

“You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.”

By Aaron Rupar