The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 6, 2018, as part of the 2018 midterm elections during President Donald Trump's term, with early voting taking place in some states in the weeks preceding that date. Voters chose representatives from all 435 congressional districts across each of the 50 U.S. states to serve in the 116th United States Congress. Non-voting delegates from the District of Columbia and four of the five inhabited U.S. territories were also elected. On Election Day, Republicans had held a House majority since January 2011.

In the 2018 elections, the Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, won control of the House. The Democrats gained a net total of 41 seats from the total number of seats they had won in the 2016 elections. The 41-seat gain was the Democrats' largest gain of House seats since the post-Watergate 1974 elections, when they picked up 49 seats. This was the first time since 1954 that Democrats flipped a chamber of Congress in a Republican president's first midterm. Democrats also won the popular vote by an 8.6% margin, the largest margin of victory for any party during a midterm election since 1986.

Upon the opening of the 116th Congress, Pelosi was elected as Speaker of the House. Incumbent Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan chose not to run for another term. In November 2018, House Republicans elected Kevin McCarthy as House Minority Leader.

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 poor approval ratings, and questions about his personal stamina for office, are credited for the Democratic takeover of the House.

As of 2022, this marks the latest time Democrats won any house seats in Oklahoma and Utah, the latest time they won a majority of seats in Iowa and Minnesota, and the latest time they won every seat based in New York City, Los Angeles County, California, or Orange County, California.

Results summary and analysis

Federal

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 midterm margin for any party and the largest margin on record for a minority party.

According to the Associated Press' statistical analysis, gerrymandering cost the Democrats an additional sixteen House seats from Republicans.

Voter turnout in this election was 50.3%, the highest turnout in a U.S. midterm election since 1914.

Note that the results summary does not include blank and over/under votes which were included in the official results or votes cast in the voided election in North Carolina's 9th congressional district.

Per states

Maps

Retirements

In the November general elections, 55 incumbents did not seek re-election, some of whom sought other elected office.

Democrats

18 Democrats did not seek re-election.

1. Arizona 9: Kyrsten Sinema retired to run for U.S. Senator.
2. Colorado 2: Jared Polis retired to run for Governor of Colorado.
3. Connecticut 5: Elizabeth Esty retired after involvement in sexual harassment allegations against an employee.
4. Hawaii 1: Colleen Hanabusa retired to run for Governor of Hawaii.
5. Illinois 4: Luis Gutiérrez retired.
6. Maryland 6: John Delaney retired to run for U.S. President.
7. Massachusetts 3: Niki Tsongas retired.
8. Michigan 9: Sander Levin retired.
9. Minnesota 1: Tim Walz retired to run for Governor of Minnesota.
10. Minnesota 5: Keith Ellison retired to run for Minnesota Attorney General.
11. Minnesota 8: Rick Nolan retired to run for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
12. Nevada 3: Jacky Rosen retired to run for U.S. Senator.
13. Nevada 4: Rubén Kihuen retired due to sexual harassment allegations.
14. New Hampshire 1: Carol Shea-Porter retired.
15. New Mexico 1: Michelle Lujan Grisham retired to run for Governor of New Mexico.
16. Pennsylvania 2: Bob Brady retired after being redistricted from the 1st district.
17. Texas 16: Beto O'Rourke retired to run for U.S. Senator.
18. Texas 29: Gene Green retired.

Republicans

37 Republicans did not seek re-election.

Vacancies during the 115th Congress that resulted in a special election

Democrats

One Democrat resigned and one died.

1. Michigan 13: John Conyers resigned.
2. New York 25: Louise Slaughter died.

Republicans

1. Arizona 8: Tent Franks resigned on December 8, 2017.
2. Ohio 12: Pat Tiberi resigned on January 15, 2018.
3. Pennsylvania 5: Pat Meehan resigned on April 27, 2018, after being redistricted from the 7th district.
4. Pennsylvania 7: Charlie Dent resigned on May 12, 2018, after being redistricted to the 15th district.
5. Texas 27: Blake Farenthold (R) announced his retirement December 14, 2017. He resigned on April 6, 2018.
6. Utah 3: Jason Chaffetz (R) announced his retirement April 19, 2017. He resigned on June 30, 2017.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

Three Democrats (including one non-voting delegate) lost renomination.

1. Guam at-large: Delegate Madeleine Bordallo lost renomination to Michael San Nicolas, who went on to win the general election.
2. Massachusetts 7: Mike Capuano lost renomination to Ayanna Pressley, who went on to win the general election.
3. New York 14: Joe Crowley lost renomination to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who went on to win the general election.

Republicans

Two Republicans lost renomination.

1. North Carolina 9: 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. South Carolina 1: Mark Sanford lost renomination to Katie Arrington, who lost the general election to Joe Cunningham (D).

In the general election

Democrats

No Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.

Republicans

Thirty Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

Three open Democratic seats were won by Republicans.

1. Minnesota 1: won by Jim Hagedorn.
2. Minnesota 8: won by Pete Stauber.
3. Pennsylvania 14: 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. Arizona 2: won by Ann Kirkpatrick.
2. California 39: won by Gil Cisneros.
3. California 49: won by Mike Levin.
4. Florida 27: won by Donna Shalala.
5. Michigan 11: won by Haley Stevens.
6. New Jersey 2: won by Jeff Van Drew, who later became a Republican on December 19, 2019.
7. New Jersey 11: won by Mikie Sherrill.
8. New Mexico 2: won by Xochitl Torres Small.
9. Pennsylvania 5: won by Mary Gay Scanlon.
10. Pennsylvania 6: won by Chrissy Houlahan.
11. Pennsylvania 7: won by Susan Wild.
12. South Carolina 1: won by Joe Cunningham.
13. Washington 8: won by Kim Schrier.

Open seats that parties held

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

3 Republicans, all of whom already announced their retirement, resigned early

1. Florida 6: Ron DeSantis resigned on September 10, 2018, 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. West Virginia 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.

Election ratings

Special elections

Elections ordered by election date.

Voter demographics

Source: Edison Research exit poll for the National Election Pool

Election dates

For the regularly scheduled November elections.

Alabama

The state congressional delegation remained the same, at 6–1 for Republicans.

Alaska

Republicans maintained control of the sole seat in the state.

Arizona

The state congressional delegation flipped from a 5–4 Republican majority to a 5–4 Democratic majority.

Arkansas

The state congressional delegation remained the same with a 4–0 Republican majority.

California

The Democratic majority increased from 39–14 to 46–7.

Colorado

The state congressional delegation flipped from a 4–3 Republican majority to a 4–3 Democratic majority.

Connecticut

The state congressional delegation remained unchanged at 5–0 Democrats.

Delaware

Democrats retained control of the sole seat in the state.

Florida

The Republican majority was reduced from 16–11 to 14–13.

Georgia

The Republican majority was reduced from 10–4 to 9–5.

Hawaii

Hawaii maintained its 2-0 Democratic hold.

Idaho

Idaho maintained its 2-0 Republican hold.

Illinois

The Democratic majority increased from 11–7 to 13–5.

Indiana

The Republican majority remained at 7–2.

Iowa

Iowa's delegation flipped from a 3–1 Republican majority to a 3–1 Democratic majority.

Kansas

The Republican majority slipped from 4–0 to 3–1.

Kentucky

Republicans maintained their 5–1 majority.

Louisiana

All incumbents were re-elected, and Republicans maintained their 5–1 majority.

Maine

The 1–1 tie became a 2–0 Democratic hold. This was the first use of ranked choice voting to decide a House race.

Maryland

Democrats maintained their 7–1 majority.

Massachusetts

Democrats maintained their 9–0 hold.

Michigan

The delegation flipped from a 9–5 Republican majority to a 7–7 split.

Minnesota

Although half of the seats switched parties, Democrats maintained the same 5–3 majority.

Mississippi

The Republicans maintained their 3-1 majority in the state.

Missouri

The Republicans maintained their 6-2 seat majority.

Montana

Republicans maintained control of the lone house seat.

Nebraska

Republicans maintained their 3-0 majority.

Nevada

Democrats maintained their 3-1 majority.

New Hampshire

The Democrats maintained control of both house seats.

New Jersey

The state congressional delegation changed from 7–5 for Democrats to 11–1 for Democrats.

New Mexico

The state congressional delegation changed from 2–1 for Democrats to all 3 seats controlled by Democrats.

New York

Democrats increased their seat majority in New York's congressional delegation from 18–9 to 21–6.

North Carolina

Due to allegations of electoral fraud, the 116th Congress was sworn in with one seat vacant. On February 21, 2019, a new election was ordered by the state election board.

North Dakota

Republicans maintained control of the sole house seat.

Ohio

The state congressional delegation remained the same at 12–4 for Republicans.

Oklahoma

The state congressional delegation changed from 5–0 for Republicans to a 4–1 Republican majority.

Oregon

The state congressional delegation remained the same, with a 4–1 Democratic majority.

Pennsylvania

As a result of changes in the congressional map, the state congressional delegation changed from a 13–5 Republican majority to a 9–9 split.

Rhode Island

The state congressional delegation remained unchanged at 2–0 for Democrats.

South Carolina

The state congressional delegation changed from 6–1 for Republicans to 5–2 for Republicans.

South Dakota

Republicans retained control of the sole seat in the state.

Tennessee

Republicans maintained their 7-2 seat majority.

Texas

The state congressional delegation changed from a 25–11 Republican majority to a 23–13 Republican majority.

Utah

The state congressional delegation changed from 4–0 for Republicans to a 3–1 Republican majority.

Vermont

The Democrats maintained control of the sole seat in the state.

Virginia

The state congressional delegation flipped from a 7–4 Republican majority to a 7–4 Democratic majority.

Washington

Democrats increased their seat majority from 6–4 to 7–3.

West Virginia

The state congressional delegation remained the same at 3–0 for Republicans.

Wisconsin

Republicans maintained their 5-3 seat majority.

Wyoming

Republicans maintained control of the sole seat in the state.

Non-voting delegates

American Samoa

District of Columbia

Guam

Northern Mariana Islands

The election for a non-voting delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands was postponed until Tuesday, November 13, 2018 due to the impact of Typhoon Yutu.

Puerto Rico

The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is not up for re-election until 2020. Currently held by Republican Jenniffer González, who was first elected in 2016, the Resident Commissioner is the only member of the United States House of Representatives to serve a four-year term.

United States Virgin Islands

See also

• 115th United States Congress
• 116th United States Congress
  • List of new members of the 116th United States Congress
• 2018 United States elections
  • 2018 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 2018 United States Senate elections

Notes

References