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Democrats may still have a chance in midterm elections

(Photo courtesy of Spectrum News NY1) “This map outlines states where Senate seats are currently up for election in the 2022 midterms.”

Jose Zamora
Connector Editor

Midterm elections are approaching and the outcome could not look more unclear for the Democrats. People were filled with optimism when Joe Biden was elected in 2020; coming off of Trump’s presidency people were eager and relieved to return to normalcy. Unfortunately, for many, normalcy meant mediocrity.

As of now, the Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives (220-212) and are tied in the Senate, but are expected to lose both positions if they do not play their cards right.

Though these are midterm elections and people often vote based on party, due to a lack of information, and they become like referendums on the party in power. Biden has been consistently polling low in approval throughout his entire presidency. This summer was the lowest point during his presidency, hitting approval numbers as low as the most unpopular presidents, such as Donald Trump and Jimmy Carter.

Much of the public’s discontent can be traced back to the major issues that are plaguing the country right now. One of the biggest issues hitting Americans is the state of the economy. Inflation has skyrocketed since 2020, and Biden’s administration has caught the blame for it by default. While inflation may have been completely out of his administration’s control, the damage control was not. Many see Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act as too little too late.

The Inflation Reduction Act is a watered-down version of a bill that was shot down last year named “Build Back Better”. Much of the spending dedicated to repairing the economy and rebuilding a more sustainable model was cut out of the bill in the name of compromise. This in concert with rising gas and grocery prices lead Americans to believe that we are heading straight into the next recession while Democrats leave them to fend for themselves.

That being said, one might assume that Republicans have an easy path to victory this time, but the tides have slowly been turning.

Much of America has been engaging in politics significantly more since the controversial overturning of Roe v Wade in June. When the case was overturned and authority on abortion access returned to the states, many Republicans from across the country came forward and declared their dedication to further limiting access to abortion and contraception. This controversy has animated voters across the country on both sides of the aisle, bringing forward a polarizing debate that has been somewhat dormant since the 1970s. Part of the reason abortion access is still in question is past Democratic failures to codify the right into law.

Republicans have also opted to adopt more fringe positions publicly, choosing controversial candidates with questionable beliefs for decisive races. One of the most baffling choices was Dr. Mehmet Oz to run for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat. Dr. Oz is widely known for his famous healthy lifestyle show and is following in Trump’s footsteps, transitioning from media personality to politician. Despite Biden’s unpopularity in the region, I expect Oz’s opponent, John Fetterman, to win. Fetterman has been focusing his campaign on discrediting Oz and accusing him of being nothing more than a millionaire carpetbagger. He also speaks to issues that are directly affecting Pennsylvanians.

On the other hand, the Democrats seem to be on shaky ground in Wisconsin. Democrat Mandela Barnes was on his way to unseating Senator Ron Johnson but has recently slid back in the polls. Ron Johnson is a staunch conservative who has recently gained national fame for being a loyal Trump ally. He has been gaining ground in the state by bringing attention away from abortion and towards trending conservative topics like education.

The Democrats still have a chance to do well in these midterms if they focus their campaigns on what people care about, and avoid making it a national referendum on which party is worse. Democrats have to focus their campaigns on the issues that are affecting the lives of average citizens, as well as discredit those candidates with questionable credibility. John Fetterman is a perfect example; he is surging in the polls despite health concerns regarding a recent stroke. I think that if voters are willing to look past health issues when that is one of Biden’s biggest weak spots, it is indicative of a working strategy.

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