The midterm elections have already concluded, and control of the House of Representatives and the Senate is decided! Highly contested Senate races on the ballot this election cycle have been called, and the Democrats have won in a stunning upset. Defying the odds, Senate Democrats could hold onto their slim majority, with the state of Georgia heading to a runoff on December 6th. Because Democrats have successfully retained their control, the Biden administration can continue passing legislation through this chamber without Republican intervention.
However, despite unforeseen victories in the Senate, Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives after multiple years of complete control. Although not all congressional races have been called as of November 18th, analysts have been able to predict that Republicans will obtain a slim majority once the tallies are finished. Much of this stems from democratic losses in critical congressional races and redistricting in New York, a state where Democrats underperformed in this election cycle. Messaging also played a crucial role in the election's outcome, with Democrats lacking a robust campaigning strategy, leaving them at a disadvantage. Republicans had a generally farther reach through their prominent ads and campaign videos.
Polls conducted before the election had predicted a problematic night for Democrats, but they were wildly off in terms of voter turnout and enthusiasm. This election season, a record number of Gen-Z voters expressed their opinions on issues close to their hearts. Many young women felt compelled to vote for the Democratic party since it was pledged to support abortion rights, as reproductive rights were on the ballot across the country. Many young members of the LGBTQ+ community were also inspired to vote by concerns over the potential legalization of same-sex unions, as advocated by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In essence, Gen-Z voters have stated they want to see a change in the nation. In short, Gen-Z voters have expressed their desire for change within the country, making their voices heard.
Sources:
Enten, H. (2022, November 13). How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history | CNN politics. CNN. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house
2022 Senate race ratings. Cook Political Report. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings
Wagner, J. & Alfaro, M. (2022, November 15). Post politics now: Biden says Democrats likely to fall short in bid to keep house. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/14/elections-news-house-races/
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