For political observers of any stripe, the results of Election '98 were practically unthinkable as Democrats defied precedent and most predictions to gain five House seats, two statehouses, while holding their own in the Senate. Only once since the Civil War has a sitting president's party gained congressional seats in a midterm election, and since 1938, the party controlling the White House has lost an average of 44 seats. Add that to the Lewinsky scandal, and members of both parties figured 1998 to be a year of greater Republican dominance in Congress and the statehouses. For the White House, which faces a GOP-led impeachment inquiry in the House, the results could hardly have been more gratifying.

Election Day Coverage from TIME Daily
Democrats Turn the Tide
Election '98 becomes a major upset for the GOP as Democrats actually gain seats. But the Bush brothers are safe.

Blame It on Newt?
After a disappointing showing, the GOP will be looking for where it went wrong

Minnesota Mind-Slam
Voters send Washington a message by electing Jesse 'The Body' Ventura to the state house

Is it 2000 Yet?
Gore gets California. Bush gets Texas. An early look at the next election night

Election Day '98: The Referendum That Isn't
The tight races hinge on local issues, but the winners will claim the ideological spoils

The Nation Shows Initiative
Our roundup of the big proposals on the ballot this year

Wall Street Waits for Wednesday
Traders share election-day apathy with the rest of America -- the status quo is plenty good enough

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Editor: Janice Castro Senior Producer: Morris Barrett Art Director: Melanie McLaughlin Picture Editor: Christina Holovach Programmer: Uzi Halimun Producers: Elizabeth Owen, Michael Goldfarb Interactive Community Producer: Paul Hechinger Production Manager: Seth Goddard Writer: Samantha Galloway Researcher: Andrew Arnold Copy Editor: Jonathan Gregg