CNN anchor Jake Tapper said Tuesday night that the evening’s initial results do not portend a “blue wave” of Democratic victories.
“It is entirely possible that the Democrats will regain control of the House today, but I have to say that when you look at what’s going on today, this is not a blue wave,” Tapper said shortly after 9 p.m. Eastern.
“This is not a wave knocking out all sorts of Republican incumbents,” he added.
TAPPER: “When you look at what’s going on here tonight, this is NOT a blue wave.” pic.twitter.com/RZnYy4Yb9r
— Elliott Schwartz (@elliosch) November 6, 2018
Tapper’s comments came moments after CNN called a competitive Kentucky House race for Rep. Andy BarrAndy BarrKentucky Senate candidate: McConnell ‘couldn’t care less if we die’ House GOP to launch China probes beyond COVID-19 Put entrepreneurs, workers and flexibility in next stimulus package MORE (R-Ky.), who faced a stiff challenge from Democrat Amy McGrath. President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won the district easily in 2016, but Democrats were optimistic about possibly flipping the seat.
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A McGrath victory “would have really been an indication of a big powerful blue wave,” Tapper said.
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Tapper noted that Democrats still retain a “decent chance” of winning back control of the House. The party must gain 23 seats, and had flipped two at the time of the anchor’s comments.
Democrats, though, are also playing defense in the Senate, where 10 incumbents are running in states Trump won in 2016.
Multiple CNN panelists agreed a few moments later that a blue wave was unlikely.
Democratic strategist James Carville expressed similar sentiments earlier in the night as initial results from Florida, Georgia, Indiana and other states began filtering in.