'Red Wave Did Not Happen': Republicans Crushed by Disappointing Results

A number of Republicans have expressed their disappointment at their party's performance in the midterms, with the Democrats appearing to be holding off the predicted major losses.

The GOP was widely expected to chalk up huge wins in the House and possibly the Senate in this year's elections, riding a so-called "red wave" on the back of President Joe Biden's struggling approval ratings, concerns about the economy, and the fact the party in charge of the White House historically loses seats in its first midterms.

However, with dozens of key races still to be declared, the GOP appears not to be dominating as expected, only holding a marginal lead in the House, and the Dems still on course to hold the Senate.

For live updates on the midterms, head over to Newsweek's Live Blog: Who Won the Midterm Elections 2022?—Senate, House, Governor Results

A number of early results in toss-up races went to the Democrats, including winning key House races in Virginia and the New Hampshire U.S. Senate seat, while several Donald Trump-endorsed election-denying candidates, such as Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful Doug Mastriano and Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters, were either confirmed to have lost or were behind in the vote count.

While the Trump-endorsed J.D. Vance beat Democratic Tim Ryan in the Ohio Senate race, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman was victorious in the closely watched Pennsylvania Senate race against Republican Mehmet Oz.

As of early Wednesday morning, the GOP and Democrats are currently tied with 48 seats in the Senate—both three short of the 51-seat threshold needed to control the upper chamber—with the GOP leading in the House by 193 seats to 166, reports The Associated Press.

Mayra Flores, who lost to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in Texas' 34th district after she won a special election for the vacant seat in June, bemoaned her party's performance while attacking those who did not vote.

"The RED WAVE did not happen. Republicans and Independents stayed home," Flores tweeted. "DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RESULTS IF YOU DID NOT DO YOUR PART!"

Discussing the results, GOP Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham told NBC that there was "definitely not a Republican wave, that is for darn sure," in the November 8 elections.

However, Graham still predicted that the Republicans will still retake control of both the House and Senate when all the results are in.

"I think we're gonna be at 51, 52 when it's all said and done in the Senate," Graham said. "I think it was a referendum on Biden. If we take back the House and we get the Senate majority, that's a very good night."

Elsewhere, journalist and Fox News contributor Brit Hume also said that prior to the polls opening, the "political conditions were such that would suggest a red wave" which ultimately never arrived.

"The polling said otherwise. And I was skeptical of the polling," Hume said. "The polling has held up pretty well tonight."

Hume asked whether the results will "encourage" Biden to confirm he will run for president again in 2024 as the president cannot be considered a "guy who dragged [his] party down to some terrible defeat."

In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is well on her way to winning reelection in California's 11th District as expected, said: "While many races are still too close to call, it is clear that House Democratic Members and candidates are strongly outperforming expectations across the country."