2022 midterm election results

USD students talk about the outcomes

LUCAS HODSON / ASST. NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

ABIGAIL CAVIZO / NEWS EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

The U.S. 2022 midterm elections have ended, resulting in a party leadership change in the House of Representatives, while the Senate remains controlled by the Democrats. 

The outcome of the elections will remain unofficial, until each state’s results are verified, but most of the winners of each election have been declared the official winner. 

The Democrats won the Senate majority with 50 of the 99 seats filled so far and are currently waiting on the Georgia runoff election that will take place on Dec. 6, to decide the 100th candidate. The state is holding the election because no candidate received enough votes to get the majority, and it will decide between the top two candidates only.

The Republican party won the House of Representatives majority, holding 220 of the seats with the Democratic party holding 213 seats. The House is responsible for making and passing federal laws, but they also have the power to launch investigations, impeach the president, and decide who becomes president in an electoral college tie.

The Senate is responsible for approving appointments for the president that require consent and providing advice. For treaties, the Senate also votes on a two-thirds supermajority vote. For making laws, a bill can be introduced by a senator, a representative of the bill or a member of Congress. From there, both the Senate and the House must pass it in order for it to become law. If the Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock wins the Georgia runoff then they will hold 51 seats. If the Republican candidate Herschel Walker wins, the Democrats retain the majority because Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the president of the Senate and casts her vote in the event of a tie. 

With the House majority, the Republicans have the power to launch investigations to uncover presidential abuses of power, and corruption. The House promised to launch a few investigations against the Biden administration, but the Biden administration has prepared to thwart their claims, according to the New York Times.

The Republican control may also affect Biden’s legislative agenda and his administration will have to focus on defending the policies they have already passed, such as the billions of dollars given to fight climate change and an executive order that raised wages and lowered prescription drug prices and other goods and services.

The Senate remaining under the control of the Democratic party is a big win for the Biden administration. Republicans were expecting a “red wave,” but they barely won the House and didn’t gain control over the Senate. With this win, Senate Democrats can continue to approve Biden’s nominees for the federal judges, and if a Supreme Court chair opens up during this term, the Senate will have the power to approve Biden’s nominee. 

USD junior Maddie Holt explained that the Republicans not experiencing the red wave they expected is significant, because it showed that the parties don’t always reflect what the people want, and not getting the expected votes showed that people are split right now.

“It’s significant, because [Republicans] thought that they had all of the support of their constituency but they didn’t, and I think it reflects on their choices for endorsing a new president.”

On Nov. 15, Donald Trump announced he is running for president. Due to anger over Roe v. Wade, many of the Trump-backed candidates did not get voted for, because of their affiliation with Trump, and his affiliation with the Supreme Court turnover.

With the Senate still controlled by the Democrats and the House controlled by the Republicans, there will likely be a gridlock in the government until a majority for either party controls both of the branches. If the House decides to pass a bill Democratic Senate may refuse to sign off, and vice versa. 

USD senior Gregorio Del Rio explained that this year, the voting results are important to students because of the Student Loan Forgiveness plan that the Biden administration passed. 

“Being at USD, I’m probably going to graduate with more than $100,000 worth of debt, and with the loan forgiveness plan, it will help, but I know some Republican candidates are saying that it is unconstitutional and want to remove it,” Del Rio said.  

USD junior Ja’Seem Reed explained that he believes there will be change in what is happening in the government over the next two years.

“There is going to be a shift in the power that Democrats and Republicans hold, and because of that, there will be a hold on what will change in the government,” Reed said.

The midterm election results are not yet finalized, as the Georgia run-off election takes place next month on Dec 6. 

Although the red wave did not occur, the Republicans are confirmed to have the House with promises of trying to change what the Biden administration passed.