The 2018 Election: A Turning Point for Democrats

As the 2018 midterm elections approached, both parties knew that the outcome would have significant implications for partisan control of the House of Representatives. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee included New York's 19th Congressional District in their lists of targets, with many considering it a solid pickup opportunity for Democrats.

The district had previously backed Donald Trump in the presidential election, but also voted for Barack Obama by margins of 6 and 8 percentage points in 2012. This made it an attractive target for Democratic candidates looking to flip seats in the midterm elections. In fact, from 1918 to 2016, the president's party had lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections.

Incumbent Rep. John Faso (R) was facing a tough re-election bid against Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado. Faso had been first elected in 2016 by a margin of 8 percentage points, but Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats in 2018 to gain control of the House.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a slim majority in the House, with 235 seats compared to Democrats' 193. However, this race was identified as one of the key battlegrounds that could affect partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

On November 6, 2018, voters went to the polls and chose Antonio Delgado (D) over John Faso (R) in the general election. This victory marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the House, as Democrats gained a net total of 40 seats and won control of the chamber.

Delgado's win was part of a larger trend in which Democrats made gains across the country, picking up seats in districts that had previously been held by Republicans. For many, this election marked a turning point for the Democratic Party, which had struggled to regain power in state government after eight years under Republican control.

In Ohio, Governor John Kasich's term limits prevented him from running for re-election, but his successor, Mike DeWine, won the governor's seat on a platform that focused on support for law enforcement and expanded job training. Meanwhile, Senator Sherrod Brown (D) successfully defended his re-election bid against Republican challenger Jim Renacci.

Overall, the 2018 midterm elections marked a significant shift in political power in the United States, with Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives and Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. The outcome of this election will have lasting implications for American politics, as both parties look to build on their momentum heading into future elections.

Nytimes 2018 election