United States Midterm Election 2022
When Are the 2022 Midterm Elections?
The 2022 United States midterm elections will be held on Nov. 8, 2022. The results will determine which party controls the 118th Congress. Currently, the U.S. Senate is split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. Republicans can regain control by netting just one seat in the midterm contest.
What Is Midterm Election and Why Is It Important?
Every two years, one third of the Senate seats and all of the House seats are up for re-election. When the contest does not coincide with a presidential election, it is called a “midterm election.” The midterms take place two years after a presidential election, midway through a U.S. president’s four-year term.
Such elections often receive less attention than presidential contests, but nonetheless have major significance for national politics and policy. Due to the checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches, a president’s agenda can be thwarted or derailed when the opposing party controls one of the chambers of Congress.
Who Are 2022 Midterm Election Candidates?
While dozens of Senate seats are up for grabs, a handful of contests have captured national attention.
In Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, is running against television celebrity and businessman Mehmet Oz, a Republican.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is facing a challenge from Republican Blake Masters, a venture capitalist who is backed by former President Donald Trump Trump and Peter Thiel.
In Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) is defending his seat against Republican challenger Hershel Walker, a former NFL star.
Midterm Elections 2022 Predictions
Most predictions see Republicans capturing the House of Representatives, while the Senate race is too close to call.
How are Seats in the House and Senate Distributed?
Each state, regardless of its population, gets two Senate seats, while the number of House seats is determined based on a state’s population.
How Many Democrats Are in the Senate?
There are currently 48 seats held by Democrats and two seats held by Independents who caucus with the Democrats. Of those seats, 14 will be up for election in 2022.
How Many Senators and Members of the House Are There?
There are 100 senators and 435 voting members of the House of Representatives.
Historical Record of Midterm Election
The party of the incumbent president tends to lose ground during midterm elections. Since World War II, the president’s party has lost an average of 26 seats in the House, and an average of four seats in the Senate.
Difference Between Midterm and Presidential Elections
Unlike state and local elections that happen every year, congressional midterm elections occur halfway through a president’s term. The last midterm election occurred in 2018 during Donald Trump’s second year as president.
There was no midterm election in 2020 as it was a general election year. Turnout is almost always lower in midterm elections, meaning fewer people participate in midterm elections since there is no presidential contest.
Last Midterm Election
The most recent midterm election took place in Tuesday, Nov. 6 in 2018, during President Donald Trump’s term. Thirty-five of the 100 seats in the United States Senate and all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives were contested.
How Do Midterm Elections Affect the Presidency?
While midterm elections do not have a direct impact on the presidency, they are a great test for evaluating a president’s performance halfway through his term. Since control of the House and Senate is crucial for executing a presidential agenda, midterm elections have a significant impact on the White House.
Can Midterm Elections Change a President?
The president is not up for re-election in a midterm cycle.