Something to keep in mind for the future: This year’s crop of Republican U.S. Senate victors – some of whom were elected in purple states like North Carolina, Colorado, and Iowa – will next be before voters in six years. Like their counterparts in the class of 2010, they will be having to defend their seats in a presidential election year. That could be a serious problem for them.
Republicans have proved themselves to be fairly adept at winning midterms, with the exception of 1998 and 2006, since Bill Clinton became president.
But Democrats have had the edge in presidential years. Bill Clinton won in 1992 and 1996, Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000 but did not take office, Obama won in 2008 and 2012. Democrats have had more success electing candidates to Congress in presidential years as well, with the notable exception of 2006.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the Republican Class of 2010 next cycle. It will be the Republicans’ turn to play defense, as Democrats will have no vulnerable incumbents in red states to defend, while Republicans will need to protect seven incumbents in blue states.