Table 1. How High the Midterm Wave?
| Year | President | HOUSE Gain or Loss |
SENATE Gain or Loss |
Size of Wave | For or Against President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Truman (D) | -55 | -12 | High | Against |
| 1950* | Truman (D) | -29 | -6 | Medium | Against |
| 1954 | Eisenhower (R) | -18 | -1 | Low | Against |
| 1958* | Eisenhower (R) | -48 | -13 | High | Against |
| 1962 | Kennedy (D) | -4 | +3 | Low | Neutral/For |
| 1966* | Johnson (D) | -47 | -4 | High | Against |
| 1970 | Nixon (R) | -12 | +2 | Low | Neutral/Against |
| 1974* | Ford (R) | -48 | -5 | High | Against |
| 1978 | Carter (D) | -15 | -3 | Low | Against |
| 1982 | Reagan (R) | -26 | +1 | Medium | Against |
| 1986* | Reagan (R) | -5 | -8 | Medium | Against |
| 1990 | Bush (R) | -9 | -1 | Low | Neutral/Against |
| 1992 | Clinton (D) | -52 | -9 | High | Against |
| 1996* | Clinton (D) | +5 | 0 | Low | For |
| 2002 | Bush (R) | +6 | +2 | Low | For |
| 2006* | Bush (R) | -20 plus | -4 to -6 | Medium or High | Against |
* Indicates a “Sixth-Year Election.” 2006 losses based on current Crystal Ball projections.