Franklin D. Roosevelt Gained 9 House Seats, 10 Senate Seats in 1934
The midterm election is usually not a pretty result for the party that is currently occupying the White House. Since 1946, the President's party has lost seats 18 out of 20 times - only President Bill Clinton (1998) and President George W. Bush (2002) were able to buck the trend.
Since World War II, the President's party has lost an average of 26 House Seats and 4 Senate seats in midterm elections.
The reasons for these poor results are pretty straightforward. Swing voters regretting their choice for President. Motivated opposition voters. Complacent supporters of the President.
On occasion, however, the sitting President does exceptionally well.
The best result ever?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic, four-term President who absolutely dominated in the 1934 midterms.
In 1934, the United States was still mired in the Great Depression, which had started five years earlier.
President Roosevelt, who had swept into power in 1932, was extremely popular despite the depressed economy. Roosevelt's "New Deal" policies, which helped to stabilize the monetary system and the economy in general, were being well-received by many Americans, and this translated directly to the polls.
While there would still be some hard years ahead, the US economy had seemingly stabilized and many Americans were feeling optimistic for the first time in years.
In total, FDR would gain nine House seats, 10 Senate seats and even 1 gubernatorial seat.
This remains the most successful midterm election for any sitting President in the history of the country.
Future midterm elections would not go so well for FDR. While he remained tremendously popular (after all, he would win four Presidential elections), President Franklin Roosevelt would lost a significant number of seats in both 1938 and 1942.
Source: US Midterm Elections History
Filed under: General Knowledge
