Five reasons why Republicans lost so badly

Democrats took control of Congress in the midterm elections, and the scale of the Republican defeat is being read as a sharp repudiation of Donald Trump's first two years of this term. BBC reports that the party in the White House normally fares poorly in these contests, but this loss was unusually broad. The House tally showed Democrats with 240 seats against 147 for Republicans, with 387 of 435 races counted.

The BBC points to several causes. Everyday costs weighed heavily: consumer prices climbed 3.7% in the twelve months to September, and 79% of voters in exit polling said inflation had caused them hardship. More than six in 10 blamed the president's policies. The war with Iran, launched by the US and Israel in February, added to fuel costs after Tehran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz. According to voter polls, 63% called military action the wrong decision, and Trump acknowledged the war played a part in the loss.

Democratic candidates such as Jon Ossoff, Annie Andrews, Abdul El-Sayed, James Talarico and Adam Hamilton kept to messages on costs and health care. Trump's decision to make himself the focus of the campaign appears to have backfired.

Summarized by PolitiKool from BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at BBC →