Republicans had expected to win the special election easily, but found themselves up against a high level of Democratic enthusiasm ahead of the midterm elections in November.

 

The GOP hopes to maintain control of the House in November's midterms, posing a stiff contest to Democrats who have to flip 23 seats in order to win the majority, many of which are in suburban districts similar to Ohio's 12th District.

 

Most political analysts say Democrats could sweep the House, with handicappers like the Cook Political Report rating more than a half-dozen GOP seats as likely or leaning Democratic in November and dozens of other Republican-held seats as toss-ups.