Democratic Gains in Congress.

Following Harding's landslide victory in 1920, the Democrats' political future seemed bleak. But the Democrats rebounded in the next election. The postwar recession worsened in 1921 and 1922. Economic malaise, along with Harding's ineffectiveness and rifts between progressives and conservatives, weakened the Republicans' stronghold. Traditionally in midterm elections voters have favored the party out of power, and the 1922 election verified this generalization with a vengeance. Democrats retained all of their congressional seats and gained more than seventy seats formerly held by Republicans. No other midterm election had produced such a sizable victory for the party out of power. Republicans narrowly retained control of the House of Representatives.

Potential for the Future.

The 1922 gains foreshadowed future successes for Democrats, whose greatest support in this election came from urban areas. Democrats were particularly strong among new citizens who resided in larger northern cities...