Midterm elections are a vital component of the American democratic process, occurring midway through a president's four-year term. They help shape Congress, state and local government, and policies that affect everyday life.
The outcome of a midterm election can determine a US president's ability to pursue their agenda. The result can also be seen as a measure of how happy the American people are with the president's performance so far.
History has recorded that a poor midterm result can cost the White House incumbent crucial seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and considerably diminish their executive powers. In this gallery, we revisit the biggest midterm disasters, listed in descending order of seats lost in both houses of Congress and including the election when the largest single turnover of power in US political history occurred.
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