Democrats did as well as was likely in a system that favours Republicans, both by the structure of the Senate and by the voter suppression and gerrymandering - before you even look at the possibly of vote rigging. I don't know what anyone else expected. Gives a proper chance - which the leadership will do its best to squander - to resist Trump's agenda and keep him on the defensive.

Trick is avoiding taking the blame for the economic downturn that's coming.