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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.