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US Midterm Elections: A Rollercoaster of Power Changes

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By Akerele Christabel

November 12, 2022
6:24 am
Los Angeles, CA

With the current low ratings of the present administration, the Republican Party has positioned themselves to leverage n the mistakes of the ruling administration to secure the minds of their constituents. . Just as Republicans expected, the issues surrounding the Biden administration are now forcing voters to turn their attention to the other political wing of the country. Inflation is one of the major factors influencing voters’ choice, as indicated by over half of the voters in a national survey done by the Quinnipiac University National Poll. Public opinion towards Joe Biden’s presidential performance aside, the parliamentary scene is another big fracas. The dual political heavyweights are locked in a brutal battle for majority seats. Seats flipping is nothing uncommon in a parliamentary democracy like America’s. However, the level

Just as Republicans expected, the issues surrounding the Biden administration are now forcing voters to turn their attention to the other political wing of the country. Inflation is one of the major factors influencing voters’ choice, as indicated by over half of the voters in a national survey done by the Quinnipiac University National Poll.

Public opinion towards Joe Biden’s presidential performance aside, the parliamentary scene is another big fracas. The dual political heavyweights are locked in a brutal battle for majority seats. Seats flipping is nothing uncommon in a parliamentary democracy like America’s. However, the level at which it is occurring now is unprecedented.

Republicans have been able to amass a net three seats in The House of Representatives. We see power changing hands as these seats were previously held by Democrats, although 88 of 435 races are not yet called. This is confirmed by Edison Research, an organization which is currently tracking the net number of seats that flip from one party to another in these 2022 midterm elections. Edison also measures the net gain or loss accrued by either party . There were seven new seats created during congressional redistricting for this year’s elections. These were not considered in the analysis. The winners of these new seats are:

Aaron Bean, R, Fla.-4
Laurel Lee, R, Fla.-15
Rich McCormick, R, Ga.-6
Zach Nunn, R, Iowa-3
John James, R, Mich.-10
Tom Kean Jr., R, N.J.-7
Monica De La Cruz, R, Texas-15
Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.-3

According to Edison, Republicans have won 185 seats while Democrats picked up 162 in a 435-seat house. As for the Senate, net gain or losses remain to be seen as only 27 out of 35 seats have been called. Republicans need to win one more seat to wrap up the senatorial election and have the majority vote in the senate.

In the lower chamber of the parliament, Republicans need a net gain of five seats to wrest control of The House of Representatives away from Democrats. While the Democratic party will need to win at least 218 seats to secure a House majority. As Newsmax projected on Wednesday at 11:20am. EST, Republicans have now taken over 200 seats, a net gain of three seats, with the Democrats at 183 seats. As of now, 52 seats are still undecided.

Here are the House seats flipped by the GOP:

Florida, 7th District: Republican Cory Mills defeated Democrat Karen Green 58.54% to 41.46% with 92% of the votes counted.
Florida, 13th District: Republican Anna Paulina Luna defeated Democrat Rep. Eric Lynn 53.15% to 45.05% with 99% counted. Liberal candidate Frank Craft got 1.8%. The seat was held by Charlie Crist, who resigned to run for governor — a race he lost to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Virginia, 2nd District: Republican Jen Kiggans defeated Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., a member of the high-profile House Jan. 6 committee, 52.05% to 47.95% with 99% counted.
Tennessee, 5th District: Republican Andy Ogles defeated Democrat Heidi Campbell by 69.36% to 28.13% with 99% counted. Three other candidates earned votes for a seat held by retiring Democrat Jim Cooper.
New York, 3rd District: Republican George Santos defeated Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi, 54.19% to 45.81% with 88% in. Suozzi vacated his seat to launch an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid.

In New York, one of the most prominent regions of the United States, there is a silver lining for the Democrats. Kathy Hochul has become New York’s governor after beating Republican challenger Lee Zeldin. Having served alongside her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, as Lieutenant Governor, this feat saw the former congresswoman becoming the first female to become Governor of New York.

As both parties continue in a skin-to-skin battle for the reins of government, the future of the United States requires not just a balance of legislative power, but a call for the right hands doing the right job.