The political landscape of the United States has shifted.

In November, elections took place across the country for a variety of state and national offices. Some vote counts have been extended, but the overall consensus is that the Democratic Party came out on top.

The Democrats have been rallying people for the midterms since their defeat in the presidential race in 2016. Many believed that a blue wave would take Congress as a result of the constant negative coverage surrounding President Trump and his administration and some on the left hoped that a Democratic majority could be gained in both houses.

The actual congressional elections resulted in the expected Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, however Republicans extended their majority in the Senate. Overall, the Democrats gained significant power in Congress, but their victory was far from unprecedented. Presidents in recent decades have nearly always lost party seats in Congress during their midterms. The loss in the 2018 election for the Republicans was 41 seats in the House of Representatives, but President Obama lost 63 seats in 2010, President Bush lost 32 seats in 2006, and President Clinton lost 54 seats in 1994.

All three of the last Presidents lost massive numbers in the House during midterms, so the 2018 losses for the Republican Party are not incredibly remarkable. The Democrats have seized the House of Representatives, but the blue wave did not shatter expectations.

On the state level, in California, the Democratic Party dominated, with Gavin Newsom succeeding Jerry Brown as governor and the Democrats taking six of the House of Representatives seats previously held by Republicans. The Democrats easily retained massive majorities in both the State Senate and State Assembly