2017 has been one of the most polarizing, controversial and dividing years for politics in the United States.

The presidency of Donald Trump began on a divisive note as he had already become notorious for his use of inflammatory language throughout the election.

His blunt behavior isolated himself from many groups but conversely aided in connecting him to his core voting base, uneducated Americans. Trump continued to do this not just through his public speaking but through his even more controversial use of social media. The president, who routinely tweets messages of division and hostility, has further separated his supporters from his critics.

The election, combined with the contentious behavior of the president, has molded Capitol Hill into yet another game of two-party politics. With the midterm elections taking place in 2018 you can expect even more red and blue blood political discourse, with many candidates seeking to prove their allegiance to their party. As the entire House of Representatives will be contested, these elections will be crucial in determining how much power Donald Trump will have over the Senate, and how many pieces of conservative legislation will be able to pass without the use of an executive order.

As “across the aisle” politics become rarer than ever, the line between the left and the right has become black and white.

Trump’s actions over the last year have evoked two very different reactions, repulsion. and admiration.

Through his behavior Trump has shifted the mainstream definition of what it means to be both a “conservative” and a “liberal”. The terms, which were once defined by their views on foreign policy, government spending, and healthcare, are now becoming representations of one’s reaction to the current political climate.

Registered Republicans who have now since shifted away from Donald Trump are often labeled as “liberal” even though they still maintain their traditional conservative values.

2017 has exposed this phenomenon more so than any other political year in history. As Donald Trump entered the presidential race as a Republican with no political experience, conservatives felt as though they needed to vote on behalf of their party, not necessarily in favor of the candidate.

The same situation recently presented itself during Alabama’s recent Senate election. Roy Moore, the then Republican candidate, had come under fire with many reports claiming that he sexually molested a teenager. Despite this, many voters still showed up with support for the candidate, claiming that even with his flaws, he would cast conservative votes in the Senate.

2018 like 2017, is likely going to be a year dominated by extremes. As Trump’s presidency continues, Democrats will become more desperate for Senate control. In preparation for the midterms, both sides of the political spectrum will begin to cater to their supporters, relying on fine-tuned ethos in their election campaigns.

As the divide between the left and the right becomes bigger and bigger, the potential for inter-party cooperation will become smaller and smaller.