I think, by and large, you look at polls, and set your expectations. You say "I expected the republicans to be crushed, they weren't, so it must be true that th

I think, by and large, you look at polls, and set your expectations. You say "I expected the republicans to be crushed, they weren't, so it must be true that the democrats didn't perform well." I think a lot of democrats did the same - but it wasn't truly realistic. I'd say the republicans were beaten pretty badly. I think they are at their worst point in decades. They managed to get their largest turnout ever, and didn't even flip the house. States that were red for decades flipped blue. And if the two runoffs are losses, that is a devastating blow, losing all levels of the federal government. 50% is not 50% without the white house. I don't think the memory of Trump will go away that quickly. This election mobilized a lot of young voters, and now that they've seen their vote got rid of him, they will be more motivated to vote again for more progressive agendas, or against more radical right wing ones. I don't think the rural republicans (Which is really where trump got most of his boost, anyway), will come out the same for a Mitt Romney. They want the guy who isn't afraid to tell it "like it is", be anti-BLM, etc. That is a major rift in the republican party that will further impact who they put up as candidates - and more rejection from the suburbs and cities will come.