Republicans Make Gains in U.S. Midterm Polls but No ‘Red Wave’

What’s in Today’s Article:

• US midterm elections – About, current situation, importance of midterm election
• News Summary

Why in news?

• In the mid-term elections, held in the United States on 8 November, Republicans appeared confident to eke out (supplement) a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• However, their hopes of a red wave in midterm elections were dashed as President Joe Biden’s Democrats outperformed expectations.
  • Red wave – A situation in which Republicans would comprehensively win the House and probably also wrest control of the Senate.

US midterm elections

• The US Congress is made up of two parts – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Control of these two houses is decided by the midterm election, which was held recently on November 8, 2022.
• These votes are held every two years and when they fall in the middle of the president’s four-year term of office, they are called the midterms.
• Each state has two senators, who sit for six-year terms. Representatives serve for two years, and represent smaller districts.
  • In the recently held election, all the seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, alongside one-third of the Senate.

Situation before the November 8 midterm election

• The Senate has 100 members, with two from each of the 50 states. Elections were held for 34 seats, and winners serve six-year terms.
• Before the recent election, Senate was at a 50-50 deadlock. However, it was controlled by Democrats because Vice President Kamala Harris had the tiebreaking vote.
• The House, with 435 voting members, was controlled by the Democrats (222: 213).
  • Elections were held for all the 435 seats, with winners serving two-year terms.
• Historically, the party that controls the presidency — currently the Democrats — has fared poorly in the midterms.
  • Frustration with the president often leads to success for the other party, and Biden has low approval ratings.

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Why midterm elections matter?

• It is exceedingly difficult to pass legislation unless one party controls the presidency, the House and the Senate.
  • The US Congress makes nationwide laws.
    • The House decides which laws are voted on while the Senate can block or approve them, confirm appointments made by the president and, more rarely, conduct any investigations against him.
• If Republicans win either the House or the Senate, they can prevent any major Democratic legislation before 2024, the next presidential election.
• On the other hand, if Democrats hold onto the House and increase their lead in the Senate, it could give them more ability to pass new laws.
  • Since senators serve six-year terms, running up a lead now would give them some breathing room in 2024.
• Control of the Senate includes the power to approve federal court justices, up to and including the Supreme Court.
  • If Republicans claim control, they could use their power to block Biden’s nominations.

News Summary

• Following the US midterm elections, the Republican party remained close to winning enough seats to gain a majority in the House.
• However, the control of the Senate remained up for grabs.
  • Either party could secure a Senate majority with wins in both Nevada and Arizona — where the races were too early to call.