6 Nov 2014 7:51 pm
The Second Term Midterm Presidential Curse
Our last four (now five) full two-term presidents, Eisenhower to Bush II, have concluded their final two years in office without the support of either house of Congress.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican 1959 midterms
Senators lost: 13, US Reps lost: 48
Result: Arguably, the worst second-term midterm election result for a recent president. The slim Democratic majority in both houses enlarged to an overwhelming majority. The Democrats would maintain this lead until the 1981 midterms, 22 years later.
Ronald Reagan Republican1987 midtermsSenators lost: 8, US Reps lost: 5
Result: Reagan lost the senate and increased his losses in the US House.
Bill Clinton Democrat1999 midtermsSenators lost: 0, US Reps lost: 3
Result: Clinton lucked out with the best second-term midterm election result. He already had both houses against him going into the midterms.
George W. Bush Republican2007 midtermsSenators lost: 6, US Reps lost: 33
Result: Bush lost both houses of Congresses. It should be noted that officially the Senate was 49-49 after the elections; however, the two independent senators in the new congress would vote with the Democrats.
Our last four (now five) full two-term presidents, Eisenhower to Bush II, have concluded their final two years in office without the support of either house of Congress.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican 1959 midterms
Senators lost: 13, US Reps lost: 48
Result: Arguably, the worst second-term midterm election result for a recent president. The slim Democratic majority in both houses enlarged to an overwhelming majority. The Democrats would maintain this lead until the 1981 midterms, 22 years later.
Ronald Reagan Republican1987 midtermsSenators lost: 8, US Reps lost: 5
Result: Reagan lost the senate and increased his losses in the US House.
Bill Clinton Democrat1999 midtermsSenators lost: 0, US Reps lost: 3
Result: Clinton lucked out with the best second-term midterm election result. He already had both houses against him going into the midterms.
George W. Bush Republican2007 midtermsSenators lost: 6, US Reps lost: 33
Result: Bush lost both houses of Congresses. It should be noted that officially the Senate was 49-49 after the elections; however, the two independent senators in the new congress would vote with the Democrats.