Civics 101 Midterm Edition: 5 Things to Know about the Midterms
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Oct 2, 2018 Brady Carlson, former NHPR reporter now at Wisconsin Public Radio, delivers a historical snapshot of the 1826 midterms. Keith Hughes, social studies teacher and Hip Hughes History creator, lists five key things to know about midterms. They cover midterms as a referendum on the president, the Senate’s staggered cycle, redistricting and gerrymandering, midterms as a testing ground for ideas, and why turnout matters.
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Midterms As A Presidential Referendum
- Midterms often act as a referendum on the sitting president and typically punish their party.
- Keith Hughes and Dan Casino explain the 'surge and decline' effect where presidential winners lose ground two years later.
House Reacts Fast, Senate Smooths Swings
- The House reacts quickly to public moods because all 435 seats are up every two years, while the Senate is insulated by staggered six-year terms.
- Dan Casino notes the Senate's stagger creates temporal divisions that dampen electoral swings.
Gerrymandering Limits Competitive Seats
- Gerrymandering shapes which House seats are truly competitive and entrenches polarization.
- Hosts explain that only about 40 House seats are genuinely in play while most are safely red or blue.
