It is safe to say that all have noticed the high tensions surrounding politics as of late, and with the midterm elections approaching closely, one cannot help but wonder what is coming next. On the national level, inflation is high and approval ratings for President Joe Biden are low; in contrast, as of only a few months ago, the overturning of Roe vs. Wade sparked a panic that caused a general belief that the Democratic Party would have a good chance of keeping their position in the legislative majority thanks to those worried about preserving abortion protections. However, as of October 2022, many polls point to the Republican Party winning in the Senate and/or the House of Representatives. 

Many voters are currently focused on the issues of crime and inflation, which the Republicans have focused on in their platforms as well. Additionally, while Roe vs. Wade being overturned sparked motivation for liberal-leaning voters to vote for the Democratic Party, the recent FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s home has motivated Republicans to unify. Other issues voters are considering for this election include the economy, inflation, abortion rights, crime, and gun policy. Abortion rights have become a common topic of discussion for Democrats with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, while the Republicans’ focus on the economy may have led to their high chances of winning these midterms.

In the Senate, Republicans would need to gain just one seat in order to take the majority. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans would only need to gain five seats in order to take control from the Democrats. All 435 seats in the House are on the ballot this year. Typically, there has been a historical trend of the president’s party losing control of the House in the midterms. This most notably happened in the 2010 midterms, during former President Barack Obama’s first term, and in 2018, during former President Donald Trump’s first term. In short, it seems likely that the Republicans will win the House, but the race in the Senate is almost entirely uncertain, and the Democrats feel confident that they can at the very least combat some Republican gains. Some important Senate races to watch include Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

It is equally important to note that Virginia midterms do not have a state-wide race this year, but the House seats are vital to the outcome of this election. Arguably the most important race for Virginians is the 7th Congressional District. It leans towards the left, but the Democratic incumbent Representative Abigail Spanberger may be challenged by Republican candidate Yesli Vega. Because incumbents typically (but not always) have an advantage in elections, Rep. Spanberger has a chance of keeping her seat, but Vega’s platform focuses on the economy and inflation, and many voters find this to be an important topic. However, abortion rights are also an extremely heavy topic of debate, and the two politicians have extremely opposing views on the issue.

To conclude, on both a federal and state level, the 2022 midterm elections are important to watch. Both results could have major impacts on the political issues of the future.

Information retrieved from The Economist, CBS News, and Politico.