Election Night Brings Nation One Step Closer to Midterm Elections

Tuesday evening featured a spate of primary elections that clarified the state of the race for the midterm elections this November.

Republicans are fighting to retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where they will need to pick up four seats to regain the majority, as well as the U.S. Senate which is currently evenly split 50-50 between both parties.

The general election for the midterms will be held on November 8, 2022.

On Tuesday, numerous primary elections were held.

What follows is a roundup of the most notable results.

In New York, Congressman Lee Zeldin bested Andrew Giuliani, son of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in the Republican primary for New York governor 43.9% to 22.8%. Zeldin will now face current New York Governor Kathy Hochul come November.

In Colorado, moderate Republican Joe O’Dea bested conservative state Rep. Ron Hanks in the state’s primary election for U.S. Senate by a margin of 54.5% to 45.5%. Democrats had spent millions in Colorado’s Senate primary election to boost Hanks, who they viewed as easier to beat in November.

Now, O’Dea will face incumbent Democrat Senator Michael Bennet in what’s likely to be a tough race this fall.

Over in Illinois, Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey won his race with 57.7% of the vote, earning the right to face incumbent Democrat nominee J.B. Pritzker in the race for governor.

Also in the Land of Lincoln, Trump-endorsed state Rep. Mary Miller defeated state Rep. Rodney Davis in the Republican primary for Illinois’ 15th Congressional District.

Additionally, Jonathan Jackson, son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, won the Democrat primary for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District.

In Oklahoma, Republican incumbent Sen. James Lankford easily won his party’s nomination for a second full term in the U.S. Senate.

Nearly every midterm election becomes a referendum on the party of the sitting president – meaning the party not in control of the presidency almost always picks up seats in the House and Senate.

In 2010, with former Democrat President Barack Obama in office, on net Republicans won 63 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives (out of 435), and six seats in the U.S. Senate.

In 2018, with former Republican President Donald Trump in office, Democrats picked up 41 seats to reclaim the majority in the House, while Republicans actually gained two seats in the Senate.

The polling and data Twitter account InteractivePolls summarized it this way:

Approval Averages at this time in office

President Trump : 42%
Republicans lost 40 House seats

President Obama: 48%
Democrats lost 63 House seats

President Clinton: 51%
Democrats lost 54 House seats

Biden approval average now: 39.6% pic.twitter.com/KnQmB7257V

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 21, 2022

Since that tweet, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls, President Biden’s approval rating has hit a fresh low of 38.0%, with his disapproval rating hitting 57.5%.

Photo Credit: Real Clear Politics

In every election, issues that are important to Christians are on the ballot. From the defense of preborn life to the safeguarding of religious liberties, to protecting young children from inappropriate sexual education, elections matter.

Christians should be good citizens and work via every avenue available to promote the common good and a well-ordered and just society. One way that can be done is through voting and election candidates who will work towards that end.

Only time will tell what will happen in this year’s midterm elections.

But the outcome is up to you.

Are you registered to vote this November?

If you’re worried about the direction of our nation, and what to help influence the outcome of the November midterm elections, check out My Faith Votes’ new “Write Now” campaign. The effort aims to engage and encourage Christians to vote this November by sending Christian voters in key battleground states handwritten postcards and letters.

You can learn more about the “Write Now” campaign by clicking here.

Related articles and resources:

My Faith Votes Launches New Initiative to Engage Christian Voters for Midterm Elections

Are You Registered To Vote? If Not, Today is the Day to Do It.

Election Night Brings Upsets, Surprises, and Indicates Big Changes are Coming in November

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