Joe Biden defied midterm headwinds in an improbable election Tuesday as Democrats held off a Republican “red wave” that many strategists predicted, giving the president unexpected momentum as he weighs whether to run for reelection.

Although control of both chambers was still unclear Wednesday morning, Democrats could keep control of the Senate and still have a path to keep the House, a scenario viewed as a long shot before the election amid voters’ concerns about the economy and inflation.

Legislative gridlock. Possible government shutdowns. GOP investigations. Those are still in play in a possible Republican-led House. But Democrats displayed surprising strength in races throughout the country, exceeding expectations and boosting Biden on a night when most pundits anticipated a setback.

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