The first is that despite what many expected, the Tea Party faction has not become a liability to the Republican Party. Tea Party candidates may not have been as visible as they once were, but the Republican Party has increasingly embraced their positions. Yet, exit polls indicate a majority of independents voted for the GOP last week.

After the 2012 presidential race, some also believed the Republican Party’s electoral base was shrinking. But after this year’s vote, six Midwestern rust-belt states will have Republican governors; the victories in Illinois and Wisconsin were surprising, and in Ohio, a landslide. Despite Democratic efforts to appeal to them, nearly half of women voted for the GOP, up a bit from 2012. More young people and minorities also cast their ballots for Republicans than two years ago.

Finally, even though President Obama was not on any ballot, Tuesday’s elections showed again that regardless of how much control presidents really have, the public holds them accountable for what happens on their watch. According to a Fox News exit poll, one-third of those who voted did so to oppose administration policies, compared to 19 percent who came out to support them.

As it considers how to deal with a Republican Congress for the next two years, the White House should remember this lesson: Americans expect their presidents to govern, even when that becomes more difficult–as it just did in the mid-term elections.

Sources:

Exit polls, 2014 election
Exit polls, 2012 election
Gubernatorial results, 2014 election
Fox News exit poll