Modest Economic Upturn May Have Limited GOP Gains and Democrat Losses: Expert

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) cheer as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), center, speak at an election night watch party in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 9. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

News Analysis

Amid widespread speculation about why the Republican Party did not quite realize the “red tsunami” at the voting booths that many had hoped for—though the GOP may yet win control of both houses of Congress, with the outcome of critical Senate races still unconfirmed—the most cogent explanation may have to do with economic headwinds less favorable to the opposition than sometimes described, according to one economic expert.