US midterm elections in November: Impetus for the Democrats

In about ten weeks, a new congress and the Senate will be re-elected in the USA. After a survey low, US President Biden and his Democrats can look to the midterms with more optimism.

“Only 76 days until the congressional elections,” shouted Joe Biden at a campaign event in Maryland on Thursday evening. Just a few weeks ago, the US President was more unpopular than ever. The allegations were too old, too rickety and not dynamic enough. But his approval ratings are increasing: at around 41 percent, they are higher than they have been since the beginning of June.

“We’re making progress. Gasoline prices have fallen and will continue to fall. I just signed the historic ‘inflation reduction act’,” emphasizes the 79-year-old self-confidently.

In fact, Biden and his Democrats are currently on a good run – thanks to declining inflation, falling gasoline prices and, last but not least, the social and climate package that they were finally able to wrap up. Confidence is already spreading among the Democrats that they could win – at least in part – the midterm elections.

Abortion laws as a campaign issue

One pound they want to capitalize on in the election campaign is the issue of abortion. New York Congressman Pat Ryan told PBS that he won the primary with exactly this issue: “I think that played a big role. I think the Supreme Court decision on abortion rights hit a pillar of democracy . That was a wake up call that fundamental rights and freedoms are now at stake. People say this is not the America.”

Even in traditionally conservative Kansas, voters recently voted not to abolish abortion rights.

Republican candidates lag behind in polls

The hope of the Democrats for a good performance in the so-called midterms is fueled by the relatively weak Republican candidates. In states such as Ohio, Georgia and Arizona, candidates supported by ex-President Donald Trump have won the primaries for a Senate seat. In the polls, however, they are often behind their Democratic rivals.

In Pennsylvania, for example, Democrat John Fetterman currently has significantly better chances of a seat in the Senate than Trump candidate Mehmet Oz. The Republicans are also aware of the inferiority of their candidates. Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, recently dampened his party’s hopes of winning a Republican majority in the Senate:

The Democrats are expected to lose control of the House of Representatives. But if they can maintain their majority in the Senate, that would be at least a notable partial success. However, Biden would not be able to push through most of his ambitious plans – the President needs a majority in both chambers for this.