There was a red wave: the Republicans won the popular vote by a wide margin, 52-47. By Aaron Kliegman.

Republicans are currently winning the national popular vote for the House in Tuesday’s midterm elections by a large margin, according to the latest data from the Cook Political Report.

14 Nov: Dems 46.8%, GOP: 51.7%

This support for the GOP appears to fit with what pre-election polling data had suggested heading into Election Day. …

How suspicious:

It’s unclear at this point what explains the glaring incongruity between the GOP’s underwhelming performance in terms of winning seats on one hand and its significant lead in the popular vote on the other. …

In past midterm elections that saw landslide victories, the party that won the most seats also won the popular vote by a significant margin.

In 1994, for example, Republicans famously retook control of the House in a red wave election by gaining 52 seats in the House and eight in the Senate. As for the House popular vote, Republicans received 36,325,809 votes, or 51.5% of the total ballots cast. Democrats received 31,542,823 votes, or 44.7% of the total ballots.

In 2010, another red wave, Republicans gained 63 seats in the House and six in the Senate. As for the House popular vote, Republicans received 44,593,666 votes, or 51.4% of the total ballots cast. Democrats received 38,854,459 votes, or 44.8% of the total ballots.

Very few Australian elections have been won by a wider margin. We would call 52-47 (two party preferred) a landslide.