“We’re not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future.

John F. Kennedy

We are here in the final weeks of the contest for control of Congress. After months showing the Democrats running very well for a midterm year, the polls now offer pretty strong evidence that the party can’t overcome political gravity — at least not entirely. Democrats are being dragged back to earth. Now, the question is whether Democrats can survive the landing — especially in the Senate, but also in a large chunk of Democratic-leaning House districts.

After Labor Day, polls suggested Republican gains in key Senate races where Democrats had shown important summer strength. President Biden’s approval rating stopped increasing. Then the favorable news environment that seemed to give Democrats an opportunity just vanished, perhaps in no small part because of bad inflation news and a falling stock market. In the end, both parties are focusing on independent and undecided voters who will carry the election.

The most recent polls indicate that the midterm races are being shaped by larger, surprising forces beyond the traditional red and blue divide. These forces that reflect the country’s ethnic, economic and educational realignment. In other words, economic issues such as jobs, taxes and the cost of living have are prioritized more over societal issues like abortion, guns or democracy. Across four swing districts, voters with a college degree were 11 to 15 percentage points more likely to prioritize social issues than those who did not graduate from college.

Attacks on Democracy

Threats against Democracy have darkened the election process. Domestic disinformation campaigns and homegrown threats to poll workers are emerging as bigger concerns before the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the escalation of violent threats against election workers . In addition election workers in battleground states face a surge of cyberattacks. Lastly the New York City Police Department is warning that amid a “complex” threat environment, both racially motivated and anti-government extremists could target poll workers, political rallies, political officials and voting sites. The bulletin urges that this assessment requires “elevated vigilance as the US midterm elections begin.”

A majority of GOP nominees deny or question the 2020 election results. Experts say their dominance in the party poses a threat to the country’s democratic principles and jeopardizes the integrity of future votes. Election deniers will hold enormous sway over the choice of the nation’s next speaker, who in turn could preside over the House in a future contested presidential election. The winners of all the races — those for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, Senate and House — will hold some measure of power overseeing American elections.

Respond

What you can do

Get Out The Vote – Many Democrats don’t vote in midterm elections.
League of Women Voters
Rock The Vote
Vote Forward
Postcard to Voters
Postcards to Swing States

Join Grassroots Movements
Indivisible
Move On

Volunteer in a local campaign or a campaign in another state. This includes, but not limited to, , canvassing, phone banking, text banking, post card and letter writing. Donate as little as $5 or as much as you can.

The Senate Races (updated Nov 28)

Each campaign offers opportunities for support. Ratings of Toss Up or Leans Democrat or Republican are from Cooks Political Report, and University of Virginia’s Sabatos Crystal Ball.

Toss Up Races Either party has a good chance of winning. 
Georgia – Support Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Runoff Tuesday Dec 6
Nevada – Support Democrat Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Senator Cortez Masto won
Arizona – Support Democrat Senator Mark Kelly  (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Senator Mark Kelly won
Pennsylvania – Support Democrat John Fetterman (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat John Fetterman won

Leans Republican These are considered competitive races, but one party has an advantage.

North Carolina – Support Democrat Cheri Beasley
Final Results: Republican Ted Bud won.
Ohio – Support Democrat Tim Ryan 
Final Results: Republican J. D. Vance won.
Wisconsin – Support Democrat Mandela Barnes 
Final Results: Republican Ron Johnson won.

Leans Democrat These are considered competitive races, but one party has an advantage.
 
New Hampshire – Support Democrat Senator Maggie Hassan
Final Results: Democrat Senator Maggie Hassan won.
Colorado – Support Democrat Senator Michael Bennet (considered Likely Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Senator Michael Bennet won.

Likely Republican 

Florida – Support Democrat Val B Demmings
Final Results:  Republican Senator Marco Rubio won.

The House Races (updated Nov 28)

Each campaign offers opportunities for support. Ratings of Toss Up or Leans Democrat or Republican are from Cooks Political Report, and University of Virginia’s Sabatos Crystal Ball. 

23 Toss Up Races Either party has a good chance of winning  

California 22 Support Democrat Rudy Salas (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
California 27 Support Democrat Christy Smith (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
Colorado 8 Support Democrat Yadira Caraveo (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Yadira Caraveo won.
Illinois 17 Support Democrat Eric Sorensen (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Eric Sorensen won.
Maine 2 Support Democrat Representative Jared Golden  (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Jared Golden won.
Michigan 7 Support Democrat Representative Elissa Slotkin  (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Elissa Slotkin won.
Minnesota 2 Support Democrat Representative Angie Craig (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Angie Craig won.
Nebraska 2 Support Democrat Tony Vargas (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
Nevada 1 Support Democrat Representative Dina Titus  (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Dina Titus won.
Nevada 3 Support Democrat Representative Susie Lee (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Susie Lee won.
New Hampshire 1 Support Democrat Representative Chris Pappas (Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Chris Pappas won.
New Mexico 2 Support Democrat Gabriel Vasquez (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Gabriel Vasquez won.
New York 19 Support Democrat Josh Riley (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
New York 22 Support Democrat Francis Conole (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
North Carolina 13 Support Democrat Wiley Nickel (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Wiley Nickel won.
Ohio 1 Support Democrat Greg Landsman (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Greg Landsman won.
Ohio 13 Support Democrat Emilia Strong Sykes (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Emilia Strong Sykes won.
Pennsylvania 7 Support Democrat Representative Susan Wild ( Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Susan Wild won.
Pennsylvania 8 Support Democrat Representative Matt Cartwright ( Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Matt Cartwright won.
Pennsylvania 17 Support Democrat Chris Deluzio (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Chris Delusion won.
Texas 28 Support Democrat Representative Henry Cuellar  (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Henry Cuellar won.
Virginia 2 Support Democrat Representative Elaine Luria (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
Virginia 7 Support Democrat Representative Abigail Spanberger ( Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Abigail Spanberger won.
Washington 8 Support Democrat Representative Kim Schrier ( Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Kim Schrier won.

4 Lean Republican These are considered competitive races, but one party has an advantage. 

California 45 Support Democrat Jay Chen 
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
Iowa 3 Support Democrat Representative CindyAxne
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
New Jersey 7 Support Democrat Representative Tom Malinowski PLEASE SUPPORT
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.
Oregon 5 Support Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.

4 Lean Democrat

Kansas 3 Support Democrat Representative Sharice Davids 
Final Results: Democrat Representative Sharice Davids won.
Michigan 8 Support Democrat Representative Dan Kildee  
Final Results: Democrat Representative Dan Kildee won.
Nevada 4 Support Democrat Representative Steven Horsford 
Final Results: Democrat Representative Steven Horsford won.
New Hampshire 2 Support Democrat Representative Annie Kuster ( Likely Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Representative Annie Kuster won.

1 Likely Republican

New York 2 Support Democrat Jackie Gordon Exceptional endorsements, including Planned Parenthood and my family members who reside in this district.
Final Results: The Republican candidate won.

The Governor Races (updated Nov 28)

Governors in battleground states are at the frontline in a fight over American Democracy. Each campaign offers opportunities for support.Ratings of Toss Up or Leans Democrat or Republican are from Cooks Political Report, and University of Virginia’s Sabatos Crystal Ball.. 

Toss Up Races

Arizona Support Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Katie Hobbs won.
Kansas Support Democrat Governor Laura Kelly (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Laura Kelly won.
Nevada Support Democrat Governor Steve Sisolak (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Republican Joe Lombardo won.
Oregon Support Democrat Tina Kotek (considered Leans Democrat by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Tina Kotek won.
Wisconsin Support Democrat Governor Tony Evers (considered Leans Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Democrat Governor Tony Evers won.

Leans Republican

Georgia Support Democrat Stacy Adams (considered Likely Republican by Sabatos)
Final Results: Republican Governor Brian Kemp won.

Leans Democrat

Michigan Support Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Final Results: Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer won.

Likely Democrat
Pennsylvania Support Democrat Josh Shapiro
Final Results: Democrat Josh Shapiro won.

Likely Republican

Florida Support Democrat Representative Charlie Crist
Final Results: Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won.
Texas Support Democrat Beto O’Rourke
Final Results: Republican Governor Gregg Abbott won.

Vote

Absentee Ballot Deadlines and Ballot Tracker by State

Absentee Ballots in New York State.
Absentee Ballots in New Jersey.

Early Voting Start and End Dates by State

Early voting in New York State
Early voting in New Jersey

Voting on Election Day, November 8, 2022

The League of Women Voters provides you with information by State

Election Day Voting in New York State
Election Day Voting in New Jersey

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