1976 was actually quite a strong Democratic year in that they held most of their 1974 gains, with losses In the House and Senate nearly evenly balanced between the parties, mostly due to personal and local factors than any national trend. Dems probably close to maxed themselves out in 1974, so holding most of that was a big achievement.
Carter of course completed a trifecta, but only barely and more due to circumstances than a wave. His victory map, which looks antiquated now, already looked like something of a throwback then with all the Democratic states in the South that he carried largely through personal appeal. And Ford carried several states elsewhere that are out of contention for the GOP today.
1974 was very much a Watergate year. 1976 was not. If it were, it would have been a strong year for Democrats.
Democrats were starting from a very high base. They had nearly 300 house seats and over 60 senate seats.
1976 was actually quite a strong Democratic year in that they held most of their 1974 gains, with losses In the House and Senate nearly evenly balanced between the parties, mostly due to personal and local factors than any national trend. Dems probably close to maxed themselves out in 1974, so holding most of that was a big achievement.
Carter of course completed a trifecta, but only barely and more due to circumstances than a wave. His victory map, which looks antiquated now, already looked like something of a throwback then with all the Democratic states in the South that he carried largely through personal appeal. And Ford carried several states elsewhere that are out of contention for the GOP today.