What are typical midterm election dynamics compared to presidential elections?

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Midterm elections usually bring lower voter turnout than presidential elections, and the party of the sitting president generally loses seats to the opposition. Fewer people vote overall, and the electorate tends to be more motivated by dissatisfaction with the president’s performance, which helps the opposition mobilize and win more congressional seats. This combination—lower turnout and a shift against the president’s party—drives the common pattern of gains for the opposition in midterm contests. The other possibilities don’t match how midterms typically unfold: turnout isn’t higher, the president’s party doesn’t usually gain seats, and midterms aren’t canceled.