Midterm Elections See Republicans Fall Short of "Red Wave," Ushering in Era of Divided Government

In November 2022, the U.S. held its midterm elections. Despite facing headwinds from high inflation and low presidential approval ratings, the Republican Party failed to generate the anticipated "Red Wave" nationwide. The final results saw the Republicans win a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, while the Democrats successfully retained control of the Senate.

This outcome plunged President Biden’s second half of his term into an era of "divided government." For conservatives, while retaking the House granted them the power to investigate and obstruct the Biden administration's progressive agenda, the failure to secure the Senate meant core conservative priorities like large-scale tax cuts or fiscal austerity were legislatively stalled. This Congressional division signaled that the next two years in Washington would be characterized by heightened gridlock and political conflict.