The president’s party often enjoys a Congressional boost riding on his coattails, but the pendulum swings the other way two years later.

In the 2002 midterm election, Republicans gained nine seats.

Democrats suffered what Obama called a “shellacking” in the 2010 midterms, dropping 63 seats.

In the 2002 midterm election, Republicans gained nine seats.

Democrats suffered what Obama called a “shellacking” in the 2010 midterms, dropping 63 seats.
SOURCE: Washington Post analysis of govtrack.us. Published November 5, 2014.