2018 United States House of Representatives elections


The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 6, 2018. The 2018 House elections were midterm elections that occurred during President Donald Trump's first term in office. Early voting took place in some states in the weeks preceding Election Day. Voters chose representatives from all 435 congressional districts across each of the 50 U.S. states to serve in the 116th United States Congress. Prior to the 2018 elections, the Republican Party had held the House majority since January 2011.
Led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Party won control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 elections. The Democrats gained a net total of 41 seats. The 41-seat gain was the Democrats' largest gain of House seats since the post-Watergate 1974 elections, when they picked up 49 seats. Democrats also won the popular vote by an 8.6% margin, the largest margin of victory on record for a minority party.

Results summary and analysis

The Democratic Party won control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. The Democrats gained a net total of 41 seats from the total number of seats they had won in the 2016 elections. This was their largest gain of House seats in an election since the 1974 elections, when the Democrats gained 49 House seats. Democrats won the popular vote by more than 9.7 million votes, or 8.6%, the largest margin of victory on record for a minority party.
Prior to the 2018 elections, the Republican Party had held the House majority since January 2011.
According to the Associated Press' statistical analysis, gerrymandering may have cost the Democrats 16 seats in the 2018 House elections.
Voter turnout in these elections was 50.3%, the highest turnout in a U.S. midterm election since 1914.
The House Republicans' passage of the widely unpopular American Health Care Act of 2017 to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as well as opposition to Trump's policies, his low approval ratings, and questions about his personal stamina for office, are credited for the Democratic takeover of the House.

Partisan shifts by state

Maps

Veteran candidate recruitment

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee actively recruited military veterans and candidates with national security backgrounds for competitive districts in 2018. Political analysts noted that candidates with military experience could appeal to moderate and independent voters in swing districts. Of the 24 Republicans unseated by Democrats, eight were defeated by veterans or former national security officials, including Jason Crow, Elissa Slotkin, Mikie Sherrill, Chrissy Houlahan, and Elaine Luria.

Retirements

In the November general elections, 55 incumbents did not seek re-election.

Democrats

Eighteen Democrats did not seek re-election.
  1. : Kyrsten Sinema retired to run for U.S. senator.
  2. : Jared Polis retired to run for governor of Colorado.
  3. : Elizabeth Esty retired after involvement in sexual harassment allegations against an employee.
  4. : Colleen Hanabusa retired to run for governor of Hawaii.
  5. : Luis Gutiérrez retired.
  6. : John Delaney retired to run for U.S. president.
  7. : Niki Tsongas retired.
  8. : Sander Levin retired.
  9. : Tim Walz retired to run for governor of Minnesota.
  10. : Keith Ellison retired to run for Minnesota attorney general.
  11. : Rick Nolan retired to run for lieutenant governor of Minnesota.
  12. : Jacky Rosen retired to run for U.S. senator.
  13. : Rubén Kihuen retired due to sexual harassment allegations.
  14. : Carol Shea-Porter retired.
  15. : Michelle Lujan Grisham retired to run for governor of New Mexico.
  16. : Bob Brady retired after being redistricted from the 1st district.
  17. : Beto O'Rourke retired to run for U.S. senator.
  18. : Gene Green retired.

    Republicans

Thirty-seven Republicans did not seek re-election.
  1. : Martha McSally retired to run for U.S. senator.
  2. : Ed Royce retired.
  3. : Darrell Issa retired, nominated by President Donald Trump to be the director of the United States Trade and Development Agency.
  4. : Ron DeSantis retired to run for governor of Florida.
  5. : Dennis Ross retired.
  6. : Tom Rooney retired.
  7. : Ileana Ros-Lehtinen retired.
  8. : Raúl Labrador retired to run for governor of Idaho.
  9. : Todd Rokita retired to run for U.S. senator.
  10. : Luke Messer retired to run for U.S. senator.
  11. : Lynn Jenkins retired.
  12. : Dave Trott retired.
  13. : Gregg Harper retired.
  14. : Frank LoBiondo retired "due to the increased political polarization of Congress."
  15. : Rodney Frelinghuysen retired.
  16. : Steve Pearce retired to run for governor of New Mexico.
  17. : Kevin Cramer retired to run for U.S. senator.
  18. : Jim Renacci retired to run for U.S. senator.
  19. : Jim Bridenstine announced his retirement November 10, 2017. He resigned April 23, 2018, after being confirmed as administrator of NASA; his replacement was seated November 6, 2018.
  20. : Ryan Costello retired due to "family, the political environment and redistricting."
  21. : Lou Barletta, redistricted from the 11th district, retired to run for U.S. senator.
  22. : Bill Shuster retired when redistricted from the 9th district.
  23. : Trey Gowdy retired to "return to the justice system."
  24. : Kristi Noem retired to run for governor of South Dakota.
  25. : Jimmy Duncan retired.
  26. : Diane Black retired to run for governor of Tennessee.
  27. : Marsha Blackburn retired to run for U.S. senator.
  28. : Ted Poe retired.
  29. : Sam Johnson retired.
  30. : Jeb Hensarling retired.
  31. : Joe Barton retired.
  32. : Lamar Smith retired.
  33. : Tom Garrett retired due to alcoholism.
  34. : Bob Goodlatte retired.
  35. : Dave Reichert retired.
  36. : Evan Jenkins retired to run for U.S. senator and then resigned to become State Supreme Court Justice.
  37. : Paul Ryan retired.

    Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

Three Democrats lost renomination.
  1. : Delegate Madeleine Bordallo lost renomination to Michael San Nicolas, who went on to win the general election.
  2. : Mike Capuano lost renomination to Ayanna Pressley, who went on to win the general election.
  3. : Joe Crowley lost renomination to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who went on to win the general election.

    Republicans

Two Republicans lost renomination.
  1. : Robert Pittenger lost renomination to Mark Harris. A new special election was ordered due to electoral fraud conducted by associates of Republican Harris's campaign.
  2. : Mark Sanford lost renomination to Katie Arrington, who lost the general election to Joe Cunningham.

    In the general election

Democrats

No Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.

Republicans

Thirty Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.
  1. : Jeff Denham lost to Josh Harder.
  2. : David Valadao lost to TJ Cox.
  3. : Steve Knight lost to Katie Hill.
  4. : Mimi Walters lost to Katie Porter.
  5. : Dana Rohrabacher lost to Harley Rouda.
  6. : Mike Coffman lost to Jason Crow.
  7. : Carlos Curbelo lost to Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
  8. : Karen Handel lost to Lucy McBath.
  9. : Peter Roskam lost to Sean Casten.
  10. : Randy Hultgren lost to Lauren Underwood.
  11. : Rod Blum lost to Abby Finkenauer.
  12. : David Young lost to Cindy Axne.
  13. : Kevin Yoder lost to Sharice Davids.
  14. : Bruce Poliquin lost to Jared Golden.
  15. : Mike Bishop lost to Elissa Slotkin.
  16. : Jason Lewis lost to Angie Craig.
  17. : Erik Paulsen lost to Dean Phillips.
  18. : Tom MacArthur lost to Andy Kim.
  19. : Leonard Lance lost to Tom Malinowski.
  20. : Dan Donovan lost to Max Rose.
  21. : John Faso lost to Antonio Delgado.
  22. : Claudia Tenney lost to Anthony Brindisi.
  23. : Steve Russell lost to Kendra Horn.
  24. : Keith Rothfus lost a redistricting race to Conor Lamb.
  25. : John Culberson lost to Lizzie Fletcher.
  26. : Pete Sessions lost to Colin Allred.
  27. : Mia Love lost to Ben McAdams.
  28. : Scott Taylor lost to Elaine Luria.
  29. : Dave Brat lost to Abigail Spanberger.
  30. : Barbara Comstock lost to Jennifer Wexton.

    Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

Three open Democratic seats were won by Republicans.
  1. : won by Jim Hagedorn.
  2. : won by Pete Stauber.
  3. : Conor Lamb instead ran in the 17th district; won by Guy Reschenthaler.

    Republican seats won by Democrats

Thirteen open Republican seats were won by Democrats.
  1. : won by Ann Kirkpatrick.
  2. : won by Gil Cisneros.
  3. : won by Mike Levin.
  4. : won by Donna Shalala.
  5. : won by Haley Stevens.
  6. : won by Jeff Van Drew, who later became a Republican on December 19, 2019.
  7. : won by Mikie Sherrill.
  8. : won by Xochitl Torres Small.
  9. : won by Mary Gay Scanlon.
  10. : won by Chrissy Houlahan.
  11. : won by Susan Wild.
  12. : won by Joe Cunningham.
  13. : won by Kim Schrier.

    Vacancies during the 115th Congress that did not result in special elections

Three Republicans, all of whom had already announced their retirement, resigned early.
  1. Florida 6: Ron DeSantis resigned on September 10, 2018, retroactive to September 1, to focus on his campaign for Governor of Florida. This seat was then left vacant until the 116th Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2019.
  2. Oklahoma 1: Jim Bridenstine resigned on April 23, 2018, to become head of NASA. This seat was then left vacant until Kevin Hern was sworn in early on November 13, 2018, having won the regularly scheduled November 6, 2018 election for the next full term.
  3. : Evan Jenkins announced his retirement May 8, 2017, to run for U.S. Senator. He lost the nomination and then resigned September 30, 2018, when appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. This seat was then left vacant until the 116th Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2019.

    Closest races

Eighty-nine races were decided by 10% or lower.
DistrictWinnerMargin
data-sort-value=1 0.15%
data-sort-value=-0.5 0.26%
data-sort-value=1 0.32%
data-sort-value=1 0.38%
data-sort-value=1 0.43%
data-sort-value=0.5 0.45%
data-sort-value=-0.5 0.74%
data-sort-value=1 0.76%
data-sort-value=1 0.85%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.03%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.24%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.29%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.39%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.40%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.75%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.78%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.87%
data-sort-value=-0.5 1.94%
data-sort-value=1 1.99%
data-sort-value=-0.5 2.16%
data-sort-value=-0.5 2.24%
data-sort-value=1 2.52%
data-sort-value=1 2.64%
data-sort-value=1 2.82%
data-sort-value=1 3.00%
data-sort-value=-0.5 3.11%
data-sort-value=1 3.21%
data-sort-value=1 3.21%
data-sort-value=1 3.33%
data-sort-value=1 3.48%
data-sort-value=-0.5 3.83%
data-sort-value=1 3.95%
data-sort-value=1 4.09%
data-sort-value=-0.5 4.10%
data-sort-value=1 4.16%
data-sort-value=-1 4.26%
data-sort-value="1" 4.27%
data-sort-value=1 4.28%
data-sort-value=-0.5 4.49%
data-sort-value=1 4.55%
data-sort-value=1 4.63%
data-sort-value=-0.5 4.83%
data-sort-value=1 4.98%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.00%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.02%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.06%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.06%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.21%
data-sort-value=1 5.26%
data-sort-value=1 5.36%
data-sort-value=1 5.44%
data-sort-value=1 5.45%
data-sort-value=-0.5 5.50%
data-sort-value=0.5 5.54%
data-sort-value=1 5.66%
data-sort-value=1 6.00%
data-sort-value=-0.5 6.00%
data-sort-value=1 6.04%
data-sort-value=1 6.18%
data-sort-value=1 6.22%
data-sort-value=1 6.31%
data-sort-value=-0.5 6.45%
data-sort-value=-0.5 6.50%
data-sort-value=1 6.53%
data-sort-value=1 6.58%
data-sort-value=-0.5 6.67%
data-sort-value=-0.5 7.10%
data-sort-value=-0.5 7.15%
data-sort-value=1 7.29%
data-sort-value=1 7.61%
data-sort-value=1 7.66%
data-sort-value=-0.5 7.67%
data-sort-value=-1 7.69%
data-sort-value=1 7.97%
data-sort-value=-1 8.18%
data-sort-value=1 8.26%
data-sort-value=1 8.49%
data-sort-value=-1 8.55%
data-sort-value=1 8.60%
data-sort-value=-0.5 8.73%
data-sort-value=1 8.75%
data-sort-value=-1 9.06%
data-sort-value=1 9.12%
data-sort-value=-1 9.29%
data-sort-value=-0.5 9.49%
data-sort-value=-0.5 9.66%
data-sort-value=1 9.67%
data-sort-value=1 9.77%
data-sort-value=1 9.86%