- Anton Zuricher
- From BBC News in Washington
Nov 9, 2022 at 6:33 am 03
Updated 1 hour ago
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Ron DeSantis was reelected governor of Florida
Hours after the first polling stations closed, many key disputes in the US midterm election are still undecided — and control of the Senate in particular is still pending.
Opinion polls conducted on Election Day indicated that many of the races would be tough and it could be some time before the results came out. In an election where many assumptions seem suspicious, these predictions were correct.
It was a night of good news for Republicans, as predicted, but their expectation that a tsunami would carry them to victory in dozens of races has so far not materialised. They’ve already lost a Senate seat in Pennsylvania and must flip two of three states Nevada, Arizona and Georgia to take control of the House of Representatives.
Below are some of the key findings so far.
1. Republicans on course for victory in the House of Representatives
Even if the Democrats win some close races, it looks like the Republicans are on their way to a majority in the House of Representatives. The question, however, is how large this majority will be.
Thanks to a surprisingly strong performance in 2020, Republicans were just a few seats away from a majority. And they started this election with a head start after successfully redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts in conservative states on the electoral map.
With any form of majority, Republicans will be able to halt the Democratic legislative agenda and begin investigations into the Biden administration. This is a win in every respect.
But when the lead is tight, Republicans must use incredible tactics and strategy to keep their party together on key votes.
2. Florida reelects Republican Ron DeSantis
Four years ago, Ron DeSantis was elected governor of Florida, a 1% margin over his opponent, Democrat Andrew Gillum. After four years of conservative leadership during which he drew on controversial cultural issues such as transgender rights and “critical race theory”, protested the restrictions of the Covid19 pandemic and became a reference in conservative media he won reelection by a comfortable margin .
How he did this is particularly interesting.
In 2018, he lost 20% in the Democratic stronghold of MiamiDade County. This year, he is poised to become the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win that Hispanicmajority territory since Jeb Bush in 2002. And he could even do that by a doubledigit percentage.
DeSantis’ move to redraw the state’s county lines to heavily favor Republican candidates also paid off nationally. Republicans will have at least two of the five seats they need to gain control of the House of Representatives.
These accomplishments will go a long way in providing the Florida governor with a springboard to launch a possible presidential campaign, should he so desire.
As if to underline this, the crowd at DeSantis’ victory rally Tuesday night chanted “two more years” an unspoken acknowledgment that if he decides to run for president, he would have to step down as governor halfway through the fouryear term .
If DeSantis wants to be the party’s presidential nominee for 2024, he may have to face his state’s most famous Republican — former President Donald Trump.
3. Confusing night for Trump
Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballots, but he cast a shadow over them anyway. Earlier in the evening, the former president delivered a brief speech from his home in MaraLago, expecting a landslide victory for the candidates he supports.
However, the truth is more complicated. In the highprofile races in which he backed candidates who defeated more traditional Republican options, his chosen few appear to have fared less well.
TV star doctor Mehmet Oz lost the Senate race in Pennsylvania; Exfootballer Herschel Walker appears close to a second round in Georgia; Businessman Blake Masters stayed behind in Arizona. Only populist writer JD Vance won in Ohio, albeit narrower than expected.
Republicans will question Trump’s political instincts after Tuesday night. And when he launches a new presidential bid next week, it will be with some hesitation.
4. Disappointment for Democratic stars
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Democrat Stacey Abrams has already admitted defeat in Georgia
In 2018, Beto O’Rourke in Texas and Stacey Abrams in Georgia lost their state races but won the hearts of Democrats due to the tight margins of their losses. Her ability to raise millions of dollars in campaign funds and build impressive bases led many on the American left to see her as the party’s future.
Given the high expectations of their supporters, both ran again for governor in their states this year. But they could not be elected.
Abrams who was narrowly beaten by Republican Matt Kemp four years ago will now finish well behind him. O’Rourke lost to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott by a larger margin than he lost to Senator Ted Cruz four years ago.
The Democrats need to find new stars.