Essential Midterms Results Maps

Published November 5, 2014Updated December 8, 2014

National Journal Presentation Credits

Producer: Katharine Conlon, Tucker Doherty, and David StaufferDirector: Jessica Guzik

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Roadmap for the Presentation

Senate Maps

House Maps

Governors Maps

Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.

Republicans Dominate Competitive Races to Win Senate

Analysis•Republicans won most of 2014’s competitive Senate races, taking seats in Colorado, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, and—unexpectedly—North Carolina•Republicans also won special elections this year in Oklahoma and South Carolina•Republican Bill Cassidy won in Louisiana’s runoff election on December 6, 2014, but Republicans had already secured enough seats to control the Senate regardless of that race’s outcome

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Senate Seats Gained/Held in the 2014 Midterm Elections

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Republican Gain

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Independent Gain

No Election

Democrats: 44Republicans: 54Independents: 2

GOP Sweeps Competitive Races

Recommendations and detected threats

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NC: Thom Tillis (R) won a slim upset victory over Kay Hagan (D)

AR: Tom Cotton (R) easily defeated Sen. Mark Pryor, helping to complete Arkansas’ transformation into a Republican stronghold

AK: Dan Sullivan (R) beat Sen. Mark Begich (D) in a close race that took an addition week to count the votes

LA: Bill Cassidy (R) beat Sen. Landrieu (D) in a runoff election announced on December 6, 2014

KY: Sen. McConnell (R) handily defeated Alison Grimes (D) on his way to becoming majority leader

GA: David Perdue (R) avoided a runoff, blowing out former non-profit CEO Michelle Nunn

Source: National Journal Research 2014; Associated Press Election Results, 2014; Scott Bland, Andrea Drusch, and Alex Roarty, “Hotline’s Senate Race Rankings: Republicans On The Brink,” National Journal’s Hotline, October 13, 2014.

MI: Gary Peters (D) maintained Democratic control of retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat against Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R)

Republican Victories

Democratic Victories

SD: Mike Rounds (R), despite seeing outside money pour in against him at the last minute after reports of a scandal during his time as governor, won an easy victory over Rick Weiland (D) and former Sen. Larry Pressler (I)

CO: Cory Gardner (R) defeated Sen. Mark Udall easily after Udall ran a poor one-note campaign on reproductive health that voters didn’t engage with

NH: Sen. Shaheen (D) held off a national tide against Democrats, holding on to defeat former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R)

KS: Sen. Roberts (R), after facing bad polling numbers earlier this summer, brought in a team of top-tier Republican strategists and won re-election by a wide margin over Greg Orman (I)

IA: Joni Ernst (R) handily won election over gaffe-prone Rep. Bruce Braley (D) in the race for Sen. Tom Harkin (D)’s seat

VA: Mark Warner (D) defeated Ed Gillespie (R) in an unexpectedly close race that almost went to a recount

Republicans Sweep Romney States, Win Iowa and Colorado

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2012 Presidential Election Results vs. 2014 Senate Results

Republican win

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Obama 2012 Victory

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Source: National Journal Research with Josh Kraushaar.

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• Republicans picked up (CO, IA) or held (ME) 3 states in Democratic territory

• Democrats struggled to hold on to most seats, and did not pick up or hold any seats in Republican territory

Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.

Republicans Win Solid Majority in Senate

Analysis•Having won most of this year’s competitive races, Republicans secured 54 Senate seats, flipping the Senate from blue to red•A GOP win in Louisiana was announced on December 6, 2014•Since Republicans expanded their majority to 54 seats, they will have an easier time passing legislation in the Senate because they will need fewer Democratic defections to overcome filibusters (which require a 60 vote supermajority)

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Control of the 114th Senate (2015-2017)

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Democrats: 44Republicans: 54Independents: 2

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Roadmap for the Presentation

Senate Maps

House Maps

Governors Maps

Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; The New York Times.

Republicans Make Significant Gains in House

AnalysisRepublicans were expected to keep control of the House, but strong performances in tossup districts and a handful of wins in states that were expected to lean Democratic mean that the new GOP majority is even

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House Seats Gained/Held in the 2014 Midterm Elections

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Democrats: 188 Republicans: 247Independents: 0Undecided: 0

Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; The New York Times.

Republicans Win Record Majority in House

Analysis•Republicans won a total of 247 seats in the House, their largest majority since 1928•An expanded GOP majority in the House means that Speaker Boehner will have an easier time passing legislation in the House without Democratic support, and Republicans will also have an easier time holding on to their majority in future elections

Control of the 114th House (2015-2017)

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Democrats: 188 Republicans: 247Independents: 0Undecided: 0

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Roadmap for the Presentation

Senate Maps

House Maps

Governors Maps

Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.

Republicans Extend Gubernatorial Advantage

Analysis•While Republicans already controlled most governors’ mansions prior to 2014 elections, gains in Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, and Massachusetts added to the GOP’s sizeable majority of governorships•Legislative activity at the state level has taken on increased importance in recent years due to gridlock at the federal level; as such, increased GOP control of governorships nationwide could give Republicans additional leverage to achieve policy goals at the state level

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Map of State Governors by Party

AK Democrats: 17Republicans: 31Independents: 1Undecided: 1

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*Race not called as of 1 PM 11/17