Even though it has been more than a month since Russia’s deadly invasion of Ukraine began, Americans are still closely following the news to gather all the details. They are not shy in expressing their admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his pride in his people’s high-spirited defense of their country in the face of a fierce invader.
At home, in the midst of security and economic challenges, Democratic and Republican politicians are preparing for November’s midterm elections. Based on historical precedent, the Republicans are expected to make enough gains to form a majority in both the House and the Senate.
During a roundtable discussion about the 2022 midterm elections on the US television network ABC, veteran Washington Post correspondent Mary Jordan said: “The fact that the Republicans are going to do so well, really, it’s just the history. The president’s party always gets shellacked in midterms. It’s only twice, 1934 and 2002, that the president’s party actually gained in both the House and the Senate.”
In the midst of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Democratic Party gained nine seats in both houses of Congress in the 1934 election. The second time the historical trend was bucked was in the extraordinary midterms of 2002, which were held a year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Republicans, under the leadership of President George W. Bush, gained eight House seats and two Senate seats.
Simply put, the support base of the party in the White House often feels gratified about its presidential election victory. Therefore, supporters show a lack of interest in the midterms, while the opposition party is more animated and determined to mobilize its base to vote and get Congress back from the other side.
This year’s midterm elections are historically substantial for several reasons. Firstly, the US is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 1 million Americans. Secondly, due to inflation and the unprecedented rise in food, goods and gas prices, concerns are increasing in the country. Thirdly, Americans have growing fears over the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its negative security, political and economic implications for the US government and its people.
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