The elections occurred in the middle of Republican President Ronald Reagan's first term and after the 1980 United States census.
Democrats won the nationwide popular vote for the House of Representatives by a margin of 11.8 points and gained 26 seats, cementing their majority in that chamber.
The Democratic election gains have been linked to President Ronald Reagan's unpopularity as a result of the deepening 1982 recession, which many voters blamed on his economic policies.
Prior to the elections, some observers predicted a poor performance for Republicans due to the difficult economic conditions.
Despite the Democratic electoral gains, this election was the first time that the Republican Party had successfully defended a majority in either chamber of Congress since 1930.