New Beginnings in the US Legislature
By: Gargi Rakhade
With the start of the new year also comes the start of a new election cycle, and both Democrats and Republicans have been quick to make their marks on the campaign trail. With Democrats currently in control of the house, Republicans in control of the senate, and an increasingly dissatisfied number of voters on both sides of the spectrum, it's clear that the 2022 midterm elections could mean major political shifts for the United States. Furthermore, life-changing issues like reproductive rights and climate justice are on the line this election season. The fate of these midterms could alter the fate of Americans, especially marginalized ones, across the nation.
Below are some key issues on the line this election season:
I. The Economy
President Biden has been in office for just over one year now, and since his election, Americans on both sides of the political spectrum have been waiting for a major economic turnaround, given the rising rate of unemployment and other economic struggles, such as home evictions, and expensive medical bills, that followed the pandemic under Trump’s presidency. Over Biden's year in office, the job market has grown quite rapidly. The unemployment rate over the course of the year has dropped nearly 4%, going from 6.9% to 3%, with an average job growth of around 536,000 new jobs every month.
Despite these significant improvements, Americans are less than satisfied with the rising inflation rate, which has lead to rising prices of consumer commodities (such as gas and food). These rising prices have made it much harder for those in low-income households to live sustainably.
Thus, even though the job market is growing exponentially in the United States, those most vulnerable in the nation are still struggling to survive. Considering that Americans have historically blamed the incumbent president's party for the shape of the American economy, things are looking less than favorable for the Democratic party.
II. Reproductive Rights
2021 could easily be characterized as one of the most formidable years for the fate of reproductive rights, with more and more Republican controlled states passing legislation that restricts abortion rights across the country. For example, Texas Governor Greg Abott signed into law the Heartbeat Bill in May of 2021, which bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy and effectively nullifies Roe v Wade. Furthermore, the legality of a Mississippi abortion bill attempting to ban abortions after 15 weeks has been put in the hands of the (conservative) Supreme Court, with a decision that could turn the tide on abortion rights and reproductive rights by the summer of 2022. As a result, given the war waged upon reproductive rights by the right, many voters are keeping abortion legislation at the forefront of their minds when voting in the midterm elections this year.
III. The Pandemic
The Omicron variant spread rapidly across the country as well, leaving Americans shocked, confused, and contaminated. While it is true that the Omicron variant is a lot less life-threatening compared to the original strand of Covid-19, its hyper-contagious nature means that even having a booster shot doesn’t ensure that one won’t contract it, while it does significantly alleviate symptoms This new variant has put Americans in a state of perplexity and panic, as Omicronis a little too reminiscent of the original wave of the Coronavirus back in 2020. Because of this new variant, and the fact that the virus continues to have an effect on the daily lives of many Americans, the outcome of the midterms has become synonymous with the spread and severity of the virus in the coming months.
Below are important races to keep an eye on:
I. Senate: Wisconsin
The current incumbent is Republican Ron Johnson, who has not yet officially announced his third run for office. However,with his history of offensive and problematic remarks, as well as the battleground state nature of Wisconsin (both Trump and Biden only won the state by a few votes in 2016 and 2020 respectively), the Democrats have a good chance of snagging the Senate seat.
II. Senate: Nevada
Democratic Senator Catherine Masto, the current incumbent and first Latina senator in the United States, is running against former state Attorney General Anthony Laxalt. Although Nevada is a highly competitive state that Masto only won by 2 points during the 2016 elections, Laxalt’s opposition to abortion rights has proven to make him out of touch with Nevadians, as the state has had a history of candidates (including Republicans) who support abortion rights.
III. Senate: Georgia
Current Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is running for a full term after he defeated the past incumbent last January in a runoff election. Warnock’s election last year helped Democrats take both seats in Georgia and flipped the previously Republican majority state into a blue state for Biden’s election in 2020.
IV. Governor: Georgia
Not only does current incumbent republican Governor Brian Kemp have to beat former SenatorDavid Perdue in the Republican primaries, but he will have to face off against the Democratic nominee Stacey Abrahams. Although Abrahams narrowly lost the election in 2018, her arguably stronger campaign, increased national recognition, and the fact that Georgia’s a purple state now increase her chances of winning the election.
V. Governor: Texas
Current Republican incumbent Governor Greg Abbott has proved to cause quite a bit of stir-up in the state of Texas, after his far too lax pandemic guidelines, continuation of human rights crisis on our southern border, and passing of the Heartbeat Bill, all of which occurred in 2021. Abbott will most likely have to face off against Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke. Although O’Rourke ran for senate back in 2018 and narrowly lost to Senator Cruz, he now has a much stronger platform after gaining national recognition from said campaign and from his 2020 presidential campaign. Considering that Texas is on the edge of becoming a battleground state, and even was almost flipped during the 2020 presidential elections, Abbott could seriously be at a risk of losing his seat as governor.
The role of voter suppression and voting rights in 2022:
During the 2020 elections, voter suppression was at one of its ugliest highs under the Trump administration, not only because of Trump's problematic rhetoric towards mail-in voting, but also because 19 states approved 33 laws that made it harder for Americans to vote in the election. Even beyond state legislative efforts to make voting harder for Americans, most states don't make it any easier for people to get out and vote, as many Americans find it difficult to find the resources they need to get registered to vote, or are unaware of which polling location they can vote at. Not to mention the frustrating lines, and laws preventing poll workers from handing out water and other necessities to voters waiting hours to cast their ballot.
Furthermore, earlier this month, Republicans in the senate blocked the passage of two voting rights bills —the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewin Voting Rights Act —by filibustering the bills from passing. These two bills together would have monumentally increased voting access in all the states and granted congress permission to oversee elections in states that have had a racist history of blocking votes The failure of these two bills to pass not only puts minority voters across the country (especially in Republican-backed states) at a major risk of being even further disenfranchised, but also chips at American voter morale, creating a risk of low turnout in the polls
Given the relatively bleak state of the nation as a result of economic tensions, political divisions and polarization, and an unyielding global pandemic, the outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections have the potential to shape not only the future of American politics for the next two years, but the future of American lives for years to come Although politicians are attempting to restrict the American voices from voting, it is crucial that we still get out,vote, and do our part in reminding friends and family to vote as well. The midterm election cycle is undoubtedly stressful, especially for those of us who are directly impacted by the issues it has dredged up, but that is exactly why we need to do put our full effort into getting the outcomes we desire, so we can have the country we deserve.
With the start of the new year also comes the start of a new election cycle, and both Democrats and Republicans have been quick to make their marks on the campaign trail. With Democrats currently in control of the house, Republicans in control of the senate, and an increasingly dissatisfied number of voters on both sides of the spectrum, it's clear that the 2022 midterm elections could mean major political shifts for the United States. Furthermore, life-changing issues like reproductive rights and climate justice are on the line this election season. The fate of these midterms could alter the fate of Americans, especially marginalized ones, across the nation.
Below are some key issues on the line this election season:
I. The Economy
President Biden has been in office for just over one year now, and since his election, Americans on both sides of the political spectrum have been waiting for a major economic turnaround, given the rising rate of unemployment and other economic struggles, such as home evictions, and expensive medical bills, that followed the pandemic under Trump’s presidency. Over Biden's year in office, the job market has grown quite rapidly. The unemployment rate over the course of the year has dropped nearly 4%, going from 6.9% to 3%, with an average job growth of around 536,000 new jobs every month.
Despite these significant improvements, Americans are less than satisfied with the rising inflation rate, which has lead to rising prices of consumer commodities (such as gas and food). These rising prices have made it much harder for those in low-income households to live sustainably.
Thus, even though the job market is growing exponentially in the United States, those most vulnerable in the nation are still struggling to survive. Considering that Americans have historically blamed the incumbent president's party for the shape of the American economy, things are looking less than favorable for the Democratic party.
II. Reproductive Rights
2021 could easily be characterized as one of the most formidable years for the fate of reproductive rights, with more and more Republican controlled states passing legislation that restricts abortion rights across the country. For example, Texas Governor Greg Abott signed into law the Heartbeat Bill in May of 2021, which bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy and effectively nullifies Roe v Wade. Furthermore, the legality of a Mississippi abortion bill attempting to ban abortions after 15 weeks has been put in the hands of the (conservative) Supreme Court, with a decision that could turn the tide on abortion rights and reproductive rights by the summer of 2022. As a result, given the war waged upon reproductive rights by the right, many voters are keeping abortion legislation at the forefront of their minds when voting in the midterm elections this year.
III. The Pandemic
The Omicron variant spread rapidly across the country as well, leaving Americans shocked, confused, and contaminated. While it is true that the Omicron variant is a lot less life-threatening compared to the original strand of Covid-19, its hyper-contagious nature means that even having a booster shot doesn’t ensure that one won’t contract it, while it does significantly alleviate symptoms This new variant has put Americans in a state of perplexity and panic, as Omicronis a little too reminiscent of the original wave of the Coronavirus back in 2020. Because of this new variant, and the fact that the virus continues to have an effect on the daily lives of many Americans, the outcome of the midterms has become synonymous with the spread and severity of the virus in the coming months.
Below are important races to keep an eye on:
I. Senate: Wisconsin
The current incumbent is Republican Ron Johnson, who has not yet officially announced his third run for office. However,with his history of offensive and problematic remarks, as well as the battleground state nature of Wisconsin (both Trump and Biden only won the state by a few votes in 2016 and 2020 respectively), the Democrats have a good chance of snagging the Senate seat.
II. Senate: Nevada
Democratic Senator Catherine Masto, the current incumbent and first Latina senator in the United States, is running against former state Attorney General Anthony Laxalt. Although Nevada is a highly competitive state that Masto only won by 2 points during the 2016 elections, Laxalt’s opposition to abortion rights has proven to make him out of touch with Nevadians, as the state has had a history of candidates (including Republicans) who support abortion rights.
III. Senate: Georgia
Current Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock is running for a full term after he defeated the past incumbent last January in a runoff election. Warnock’s election last year helped Democrats take both seats in Georgia and flipped the previously Republican majority state into a blue state for Biden’s election in 2020.
IV. Governor: Georgia
Not only does current incumbent republican Governor Brian Kemp have to beat former SenatorDavid Perdue in the Republican primaries, but he will have to face off against the Democratic nominee Stacey Abrahams. Although Abrahams narrowly lost the election in 2018, her arguably stronger campaign, increased national recognition, and the fact that Georgia’s a purple state now increase her chances of winning the election.
V. Governor: Texas
Current Republican incumbent Governor Greg Abbott has proved to cause quite a bit of stir-up in the state of Texas, after his far too lax pandemic guidelines, continuation of human rights crisis on our southern border, and passing of the Heartbeat Bill, all of which occurred in 2021. Abbott will most likely have to face off against Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke. Although O’Rourke ran for senate back in 2018 and narrowly lost to Senator Cruz, he now has a much stronger platform after gaining national recognition from said campaign and from his 2020 presidential campaign. Considering that Texas is on the edge of becoming a battleground state, and even was almost flipped during the 2020 presidential elections, Abbott could seriously be at a risk of losing his seat as governor.
The role of voter suppression and voting rights in 2022:
During the 2020 elections, voter suppression was at one of its ugliest highs under the Trump administration, not only because of Trump's problematic rhetoric towards mail-in voting, but also because 19 states approved 33 laws that made it harder for Americans to vote in the election. Even beyond state legislative efforts to make voting harder for Americans, most states don't make it any easier for people to get out and vote, as many Americans find it difficult to find the resources they need to get registered to vote, or are unaware of which polling location they can vote at. Not to mention the frustrating lines, and laws preventing poll workers from handing out water and other necessities to voters waiting hours to cast their ballot.
Furthermore, earlier this month, Republicans in the senate blocked the passage of two voting rights bills —the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewin Voting Rights Act —by filibustering the bills from passing. These two bills together would have monumentally increased voting access in all the states and granted congress permission to oversee elections in states that have had a racist history of blocking votes The failure of these two bills to pass not only puts minority voters across the country (especially in Republican-backed states) at a major risk of being even further disenfranchised, but also chips at American voter morale, creating a risk of low turnout in the polls
Given the relatively bleak state of the nation as a result of economic tensions, political divisions and polarization, and an unyielding global pandemic, the outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections have the potential to shape not only the future of American politics for the next two years, but the future of American lives for years to come Although politicians are attempting to restrict the American voices from voting, it is crucial that we still get out,vote, and do our part in reminding friends and family to vote as well. The midterm election cycle is undoubtedly stressful, especially for those of us who are directly impacted by the issues it has dredged up, but that is exactly why we need to do put our full effort into getting the outcomes we desire, so we can have the country we deserve.