The anticipated "red wave" failed to materialize on Tuesday, giving Americans two more years to collectively decide what they really want by likely ushering in a divided government that is certain to be acrimonious but will prevent Democrats or Republicans from engineering a major ideological shift. 

To strategize for the two years ahead, both parties must come to an understanding of what exactly happened during a highly unusual midterm election shaped by a once-in-a-century pandemic and the aftermath of an unprecedented attempt to steal power by a defeated president in 2020.

One reason why Tuesday’s results were inconclusive is that neither side produced a midterm message sufficiently compelling to dominate this election and to win over voters who were not already locked into their partisan bunkers.

“It is going to be stasis for two years until this question is called again,” Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, tells CNN. “That seems to be what the outcome was—it was a non-outcome outcome. Maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world because I think we do need a presidential election year in which to try to establish some kind of direction on this.”

Reeher was also quoted in the following articles regarding the midterm elections:

Business Insider: “While some of Trump's picks lost or underperformed, Gov. Ron DeSantis dominated in Florida — heating up talks about who the GOP nominee should be in 2024”

CNY Central: “NYS doesn't see predicted red wave, expert says Republicans may gain control of House”

The Daily Star: “Zeldin loss ignites debate over GOP candidate selection”