President Joe Biden addresses reporters Wednesday after appearing to weather historic and political headwinds in the midterm elections, preventing resounding Republican victories even as his presidency now looks likely to enter a new period of divided government.   

  The results, he said, are a sign that U.S. democracy is intact, despite the fact that it has been under threat for the past several years.   

  “We had an election yesterday,” Biden said during a post-election news conference.  “And it was a good day, I think, for democracy.”   

  “Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proved once again that democracy is what we are,” he said, adding that “while the press and pundits are predicting a massive red wave, it didn’t happen.”   

  “I know you’ve been kind of upset by my constant optimism,” Biden told reporters in the room, “but I felt good about the whole process.”   

  The results were neither the “slumps” that George W. Bush described during his 2006 midterm press conference, nor the “mistreatment” that Barack Obama said Democrats endured in 2010.   

  Instead, the failure of the so-called “red wave” to materialize Tuesday night left Democrats, including those inside the White House, feeling exhilarated and vindicated after an election season in which Biden’s political prowess was questioned.   

  “While losing the seat is painful… Democrats had a strong night.  And we lost fewer seats in the House of Representatives than the first midterm election of any Democratic president in 40 years,” Biden noted.   

  “We defied historical trends,” a senior Biden adviser told CNN.  “It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.”   

  The results appeared more likely to prompt soul-searching among Republicans than Democrats, as former President Donald Trump teased an imminent announcement that he would run for the White House again.  Many of the candidates Trump endorsed in swing races lost or were locked in contests that were too early to call.   

  But Biden and his team still face the prospect of a difficult two-year administration if Republicans take control of the House of Representatives.  The President’s agenda will likely be severely curtailed without a Democratic majority.  And Republicans have promised investigations into the administration and the Biden family.   

  Exit polls also showed simmering discontent among voters about the country’s economic health.  About three-quarters of voters nationally said the economy is “poor” or “not good,” and the same percentage said inflation has caused them severe or moderate hardship.  About two-thirds said gas prices are causing them difficulties.   

  Voters have a disheartening view of the way things are going in the country in general, with more than 7 in 10 saying they are “dissatisfied” or “angry”.   

  For the president, improving the nation’s pervasive gloom will be an ongoing challenge, despite Democrats beating expectations on Tuesday.  Without a majority in Parliament, his tools to achieve this will be more limited.   

  Biden spent most of his campaign focused on economic issues, including areas where he had taken steps to cut costs.  But he drew some criticism, including from some Democrats, for expanding his final message to include abortion rights and the defense of democracy.   

  Heading into Tuesday, Biden’s advisers were ready to defend the tactic and were prepared with historical data showing Democrats doing better this year than in past midterms, which typically result in losses for his incumbent party. president.   

  Ultimately, however, Biden is likely to avoid finger-pointing and second-guessing.  Even with the House losses, this year’s results are among the best for the ruling party in recent memory.   

  By comparison, Democrats lost 54 seats in 1994, when President Bill Clinton was in office.  And Obama’s first midterm election saw his party lose 63 seats.   

  Whether the results change Biden’s thinking about a second term remains to be seen.  The president has indicated that he intends to run for re-election, and members of his team have begun preparations ahead of the final decision.   

  But a decision is not likely to be made until next year after he has discussed the matter with his family over the festive period.