In the most literal sense, midterm elections are exactly what their name suggests: the elections that take place halfway through a president's four-year term. When people refer to midterm elections, those congressional votes are usually what they’re thinking of. A majority of U.S. states — 36 of 50 — will hold elections for governor this year, and the vast majority of state legislatures have elections as well. At every level of American government, the effects of midterm elections can last for years. If elections are up in more reliably Democratic states, Democrats will probably have a good year and vice versa.

Source: Washington Post November 05, 2018 05:00 UTC