# 2018 Mid Terms, Place Your Bets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 18, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120 "2018-07-18T03:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/1 "2018-07-18T03:42:13Z")
What will the results be? A. Large Democratic gains allowing them to take both the Senate and House. B. Large Democratic gains in the House to take the majority, but Republicans retain the Senate. C. Small Democratic gains in the House to remain in the minority; Republicans retain the Senate. D. Small Republican gains in the House and Senate, retaining power in both. E. Large Republican gains in both the House and Senate, sending Democrats to the wilderness. We’ll let the results from this poll come in until it dies and then dig it up again in November. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/2 "2018-07-18T03:48:47Z")
I vote for D. Any blue wave potential has been shit away by the…D’s. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/3 "2018-07-18T04:11:38Z")
A. 5 % chance B. 50 % C. 39+ % D. 5 % E. 1\< % Roughly ;). ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/4 "2018-07-18T05:29:21Z")
It’s Mueller time, baby! This may change soon once we have data on exactly how badly this week’s debacles have hurt the Pubbies, but right now I’m thinking like 30% A, 60% B. Are we only counting the actual election results, or does it count as a Democratic takeover if they gain a Senate majority by virtue of some patriotic Republicans switching parties? If the former, then say 25% A, 65% B. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/5 "2018-07-18T05:38:27Z")
A. 0% B. 1\<% C. 98% D. 1% E. 1\<% I’m not much for optimism these days and the D’s are champs at losing by a nose. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/6 "2018-07-18T12:40:59Z")
The Dems have ample grist for their TV Ad mill. A. 48% B. 52% C. 0% D. 0% E. 0% ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/7 "2018-07-18T12:54:02Z")
A. 10%. The map is unfavorable, but another week like last one and it will be much more likely. B. 90%. The House WILL be in Democratic hands. Hail, Speaker Pelosi! If only Donald and Mike could both leave us one way or the other nearly simultaneously. C. 0% D. 0% E. 0% ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/8 "2018-07-18T13:13:34Z")
If I were a betting man (and I am! ;)) I’d put my money on C. Should be plenty of opportunity for the Dems to take advantage of and accomplish A or B but hey! - They are the Dems! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/9 "2018-07-18T14:32:41Z")
[Shit like this](https://www.wsj.com/articles/vote-joe-crowley-for-working-families-1531868231) is why the Dems piss away any advantage they have. Can’t read the whole thing but you get the gist. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/10 "2018-07-18T14:41:33Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > [Shit like this](https://www.wsj.com/articles/vote-joe-crowley-for-working-families-1531868231) is why the Dems piss away any advantage they have. Can’t read the whole thing but you get the gist. Fuck Joe Lieberman. If we piss off traitors to the party by nominating progressives, then bully for us. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/11 "2018-07-18T19:40:30Z")
I’m going out on a limb and saying A. I have seen too many elections where polls of “the party in power is pretty much going to stay that way” (Canada, 1993; UK, 1997; and, to a lesser extent, USA 1994) were wildly off the mark not to expect it this time. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/12 "2018-07-18T21:09:17Z")
A) 1% b) 4% c) 10% d) 80% e) 5% I think even more republican voters will turn out now than they did in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/13 "2018-07-18T21:21:40Z")
I’ve lost a lot of hope (and respect) for the American electorate. Option “A” should be a no brainer. While some special election results have been promising, I’ll hedge my bets and go for “C” ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/14 "2018-07-18T22:30:54Z")
I’m not setting odds or anything and a lot can change between now and November. But if the election were held today, the likeliest scenario is one which doesn’t explicitly appear in the OP. Democrats gain enough seats in the House to take control there, but the Republicans pick up a seat or two in the Senate. (Which would mean Trump’s agenda is dead, but he has a bit more breathing room on confirmations.) ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/15 "2018-07-18T22:34:58Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I’m not setting odds or anything and a lot can change between now and November. But if the election were held today, the likeliest scenario is one which doesn’t explicitly appear in the OP. > > Democrats gain enough seats in the House to take control there, but the Republicans pick up a seat or two in the Senate. (Which would mean Trump’s agenda is dead, but he has a bit more breathing room on confirmations.) I agree that that’s a quite plausible scenario, but it seems like it’s covered by B. Just parse the “Large Democratic gains” part as applying to the House, but not to the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/16 "2018-07-18T23:12:43Z")
I’d say Democrats have a 75% chance at the House and 25% at the Senate, so the most likely is B. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/17 "2018-07-18T23:42:50Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I agree that that’s a quite plausible scenario, but it seems like it’s covered by B. Just parse the “Large Democratic gains” part as applying to the House, but not to the Senate. Agreed. That’s why I wrote “explicitly”. There’s some detail given in other scenarios about Republican small or large gains in the House or Senate, but only in tandem with each other - nothing with about Republicans gaining in the Senate and losing (perhaps big) in the House. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/18 "2018-07-19T00:58:15Z")
The pessimist in me says that C is the most likely outcome. On the other hand, the Democrats just got an endorsement from a former Republican. > **[Lifelong Republican James Comey tells everyone to vote Democrat in November...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/lifelong-republican-james-comey-tells-151236544.html)** > > James Comey has urged “all who believe in this country’s values” to vote for the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. I doubt very many people will be swayed to vote D because of James Comey, but every little bit helps. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/19 "2018-07-20T15:06:00Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I’m going out on a limb and saying A. I have seen too many elections where polls of “the party in power is pretty much going to stay that way” (Canada, 1993; UK, 1997; and, to a lesser extent, USA 1994) were wildly off the mark not to expect it this time. That wasn’t the case in Canada in 1993. Mulroney’s government was wildly unpopular. Two years before the election, he hit 15% support in the opinion polls. The 1993 election result wasn’t a surprise; the polls called it. His successor, Campbell, was initially popular, but she made some serious missteps during the campaign, including running an advert that was generally considered to be mocking Jean Chrétien’s facial deformity. It wasn’t a surprise at all that the PCs were kicked out of office. What was a surprise was the magnitude of the loss: from a majority government to two seats in the Commons. That’s generally considered the most significant loss by a national government in Commonwealth history. The magnitude of the loss wasn’t predicted, because it depended so much on the vote patterns in the individual ridings. There were several ridings that were close and could easily have gone for the PCs; still would have produced a loss, but not so lop-sided. But there wasn’t much polling done at the local level. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120/20 "2018-07-20T16:12:20Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I’m going out on a limb and saying A. I have seen too many elections where polls of “the party in power is pretty much going to stay that way” (Canada, 1993; UK, 1997; and, to a lesser extent, USA 1994) were wildly off the mark not to expect it this time. UK 1997? You’ve got to be kidding. Everyone expected Labour to win; it was just the size of the majority that was in question. As for America 2018, all I’ll predict is that voter turnout will be greater. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2018-mid-terms-place-your-bets/818120.md?page=2)