People across the length and breadth of the United States of America (USA) are voting to elect their representatives to Congress.
The midterm elections will determine whether Democrats keep their slim majorities in the House and Senate, or if Republicans will seize control of one or both chambers of the legislature.
Pollsters are predicting that because Biden’s government is battling some economic challenges, the Republicans are most likely to gain the majority in the House, however, the control of the Senate could go either way.
“There are some countervailing pressures on the economy; unemployment remains relatively low at 3.5 percent, consumer confidence is still fairly high, but inflation hits everyone, and the majority [the Democrats] fair or not – is going to get scapegoated.”
Thomas Gift, Rector Centre for US Politics- University College of London
All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives are up for grabs, along with 34 seats in the Senate. Governorships, state legislatures, local councils and school boards are also being contested.
It was reported that as of Monday evening, about 42 million voters had already casted their ballots. Election officials and U.S. prosecutors are keeping a close watch on the elections to prevent any voter intimidations.
The Possible Impacts of the Election
Midterm elections have always been some sought of a referendum that shows whether the people are happy with the Party in power or not.
President Biden who claimed to be confident about a Democrats victory has admitted that the elections will be “tough” and urged Americans to see the elections more as a “choice” and not a referendum.
Possibly the greatest impact of the midterm elections should the Republicans win will be on Joe Biden’s legislative hopes. President Biden will definitely have a hard time, passing laws should Congress be controlled by the Republicans.
Moreover, the success of government business is also heavily dependent on the outcome of the election. Should the Republicans control either of the chambers, President Biden will have a really difficult time governing the US the way he wants.
Some have even suggested that President Biden may not serve his full four-year mandate should the Republicans control Congress. That is, a Republican majority in both chambers is likely to impeach the President Biden.
Meanwhile, President Trump has intimated that he may run for President again. “I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida,” Trump said at a Save America rally in Vandalia, Ohio on the eve of the midterm elections.
