In the wake of the 2022 Midterm election, both parties are reeling from what was a surprising outcome.
With Democrats performing better than expected, President Biden described the unexpectedly favorable result to be a ‘good day’ for democracy.
Republicans expected a “Red Wave,” expecting voters to vote against the Democrat’s progressive policies. But young voters showed up in record numbers, blocking a Republican wave. In an interview with NPR, Harvard political professor John Della Volpe said that “we weren't sure whether we were going to see a red wave or a blue wave, but we were pretty confident that we would see a Gen Z wave. And that's what the data shows 24 hours later.”
Some results can be attributed to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June, inspiring some Gen Z voters to take matters into their own hands. According to Pennsylvania station ABC27, “44% of voters aged 18 to 29 said abortions were at the top of their minds.”
While votes are still being counted, the fight on both sides for control in the House remains. CBS News estimates that “Republicans will win at least 213 seats out of the 218 needed to secure a majority,” but adds that “Democrats are estimated to win at least 206 seats”. This is an unprecedented result as the party of the incumbent President tends to lose a significantly larger number of House seats.
As some contentious state races are still too close to call, buildup for the 2024 Presidential race has only increased. With former President Trump teasing a “very big announcement” in just five days and better-than-expected Democratic midterm results, voters will be buckling up in anticipation for what’s to come.
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