The nationwide 2008 vote for U.S. House reveals that the Republican Party got 43.0%, the Democratic Party got 53.9%, and “others” got 3.1%. The Republican share of the vote is the lowest either major party has polled nationwide for U.S. House, back to 1976. In 1976 the Republicans received 42.0%.
In 2006, the Republican Party got 44.8%; in 2004 it got 49.9%; in 2002, 50.6%; in 2000, 48.0%; in 1998, 48.6%; in 1996, 48.5%; in 1994, 52.0%; in 1992, 45.2%.
So what is the highest share of the vote either major party has polled recently?
Since the end of World War II, the best Republican showing was 1946, 53.4%. The best Democratic showing was 1974, 57.1%.