The 1962 Congressional Midterms looked bad for the Republicans. Kennedy’s approval ratings were sky high, the economy doing well and Democrat infighting seemed to have been held at bay for the meantime, or at the very least remained deep beneath the surface. The Republicans however were clearly beginning to burst at the seems, although it wasn’t open warfare just yet. Conservatives ,disgruntled at Nixon’s capitulation to the Liberal Wing of the party in 1960, were still cringing at the “Liberal East Coast Elite’s” agenda.

The House

In the House the Democrats gains were strong, although incumbent Republicans with a substantial majority tended to hold on, but, sticking with the trends of the rest of the elections the Democrats swept New England and the North East. Although he had so far struggled in passing his New Frontiers programme, struggling with the conservative coalition of Republicans and Southern Dems, New Englanders clearly thought his agenda was worth it. However this was not replicated in the west. The Republicans picked up marginals accross the Midwest with Moderate and Liberal Candidate, but the real successes came in the South West where Conservative Candidates seemingly reversed Republican defeats. However these victories were over looked in the leadership as the loss of almost the entire North East and the traditional republican heartland the South West. Despite hard fought battles the Republicans held strong across Arizona, New Mexico and Rural California, many of these seats remained held by Conservatives.

The Senate: https://i.imgur.com/BnvwvJX.png

In the Senate the situation saw similar Democratic Gains. The Dems held the deep south (as all expected) and gained several states including Vermont, Connecticut, Idaho and Illinois. The loss of the first especially hurt the Republicans, reflecting a greater trend of the loss of New England Seats to the Democrats. One again in the Midwest the Republicans faired well, although they weren’t able to replicate their successes in Gubernatorial elections, picking up Wyoming and Colorado, while holding California, New Mexico and Arizona. Despite an overall depressing showing for the Republicans, the holding of these states against an impressive Democrat assault was vital in keeping them relevant. However it was in the Gubernatorial Elections where things would be thrown to the wind.

[M] Alaska and Hawaii Democrat holds, forgot that on the map.

Gubernatorial Elections: https://i.imgur.com/OAfSRDY.png

California: The eyes of the Nation fell on California where former Vice President Richard Nixon challenged Democrat Incumbent Pat Brown. Nixon ran a strong moderate campaign, extending several concessions to Conservatives including tax cuts limited deregulation. As the Republican Parties most prominent figure on the National Stage many expected Nixon to win. Brown was a popular Governor, but surely he couldn’t compete with “Tricky Dick”? It turned out he could. Brown consistently chipped away at Nixon’s vast lead in the polls, until, two week before election day, he overtook him. With Nixon crumbling in the polls, Nelson Rockefeller offered to fly in and campaign, which the vice President begrudgingly accepted (much to the horror of conservatives.). The Rockefeller effect could be felt across California. He was a confident leader, and soon what he phrased as “efforts to reconcile the Conservative and Liberal wings of this great party” worked. Come election day Nixon had regained a narrow lead. The Result was close.

Richard Nixon 50.3%, Pat Brown 49.7%.

New York: In the other major State up for election, former Governor Nelson Rockefeller chose not to run again to focus on his personal life (although it was obviously preparation for his expected run for the Presidency). This opened the Governor seat in Albany, an opportunity quickly jumped on by Democrats and Republicans. Rockefellers right Hand man, Malcolm Wilson was soon put forward by the Republicans. Wilson rapidly positioned himself as the “logical successor” to Rockefeller, ready to carry on the Governors popular legacy. The Democrats soon selected popular District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau to lead to charge. On the whole the race was unremarkable, both Wilson and Morgenthau were liberals, proposing similar expansions of New Deal programmes. Ultimately Wilson’s insistence on “a balanced budget by any means”, won over the Upper State conservatives. Wilson took the State with 54% of the vote.

Malcom Wilson 54.6% Robert M. Morgenthau 45.2%

In other elections, Liberals were similarly successful. William Scranton of Pennsylvania won the state back for the Republicans, while Jim Rhodes of Ohio and George Romney of Michigan narrowly won their states, Romney especially off the backing of a strong civil rights platform. However more impressively was in the States of Wyoming and New Mexico. In Wyoming the Conservative wing of the party propelled Clifford P. Hansen to the Governors house in an impressive 60% victory. In New Mexico controversial Governor Edwin L. Mechem rallied his conservative base to hold the state 52% to 48% against his Democratic Challenger.

Historians however would look back on the 1962 Elections as the beggining of something new. In the words of one.

"the Gubernatorial trend for 1962 indicated strong gains for liberal candidates. The Democrats, in tune with the "Kennedy Wave", swept governorships nation wide. Contrary to this the Republicans still faired well. Presidential hopeful Nelson Rockefeller toured the country having declined to run for Governor in New York again, endorsing liberal candidates in key states. His presence is deemed to have inspired wins for Nixon in California and Romney in Michigan, at a time when the Democrats had a grip on liberal voters. Republican higher ups would take note that these victories against the trend suggested Liberalism would still hold strong amongst voters and eventually return the white house to the GOP. However a more insightful overview would note the key elections in New Mexico and Arizona, where Conservatives Evan Meecham and Paul Fanin not only held their ground against a strong biDemocrat challenge, but increased their majorities. Furthermore Republican leadership seemed almost willfully blind to losses in traditional Red States such as Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine where it became obvious that Kennedy and the Democrats had captured Liberal