2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: If the Democratic Party continues to go [View all]HoneychildMooseMoss
(251 posts)look at Bill Clinton.
In 1992, when Clinton won his first term, the Democrats should have made some pickups in the House and Senate. Instead, the Democrats actually LOST 9 House seats. And didn't gain any in the Senate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1992
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_1992
But we still had comfortable majorities in both Houses. That is, until 1994, when we lost control of both houses with a loss of 8 Senate seats, and 54 House seats.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1994
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_1994
And in 1996, when Clinton won a second term, it didn't rub off on down-ticket races, as we lost 2 more Senate seats, and regained only 2 House seats.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1996
So in two presidential elections where Bill Clinton should have had some coattails, Democrats actually lost a
total of 7 House seats and 2 Senate seats.