After the so-called “blue wave” of Democratic victories in the 2018 midterm election, the grassroots of both parties looked to the 2019 off-year as a testing ground for the 2020 presidential cycles. With only four states in play and sporadic special elections, 2019’s small skirmishes were hailed as indicators for how the Republican Party would fare in 2020.

The result? Well, predictions of another blue wave in 2020 have been tempered by a steady GOP wave in 2019 that signals bad news for Democrats as congressional redistricting kicks off.