Marquette Law School releases analysis on 2022 midterm election
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Tuesday, Nov. 15, Marquette Law School released their analysis of the 2022 midterm elections.
This midterm, political pundits called for there to be a so-called "red-wave," a term used to describe the anticipated political gains of the Republican party.
All the conditions appeared to have been set for a Democratic wipeout -- inflation, concerns about crime, elevated gas prices, the typical thrust for change, but despite these concerns, Democrats defied expectations for the 2022 midterm elections.
A week after our nation's most contentious midterm election, the polling results are in.
"People exaggerated how confident they could be that the polls were again going to be too Democratic and therefore there would be an even bigger Republican victory -- that turned out not to be the case," said Charles Franklin, a pollster with Marquette Law School.
Franklin provided his analysis of the Nov. 8 midterm elections at a luncheon hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club.
Franklin said outside polling contradicted what would eventually become a Democratic win.
"Generally, what they are doing is working for campaigns and keeping their results private," said Franklin.
A move not aligned with the polling of scholars.
"They did not see the red wave. If anything, they (independent pollers) saw tight races, but not movement to Republicans winning everywhere. As it turns out, that's exactly what we seen," said Franklin.
Political experts say unlikely players shook up the midterm election -- those players, independent voters.
"They decided for some races they were going to vote for Democrats and for some races they voted for Republicans," said Mordecai Lee, UW-Milwaukee professor emeritus.
Lee said when it comes to elections, anything can happen. "The voters said I don’t care what your expectations are, I'm going to vote the way I want to vote."
And as the nation gears up for the 2024 presidential election, with the expectation former President Donald Trump will toss his hat in the ring to run again, polling experts say we have to wait and see how he fairs in this next political cycle.
"So much depends on that strength of the Republican party that approve of him and like him, but may increasingly think it's time to move to another alternative, and where does that balance lie? It's unsatisfying, but wait and see," said Franklin.