Midterms

The 2022 Midterms

By Thad Worth

With the Congress in a deadlock, the nation’s political battlefield still raging, and an economic downturn, there appears to be no end to the list of woes that our republic seems to be facing. All of this may change after this November’s midterm elections. With inflation raging and a less motivated base, Republicans seem to have a good chance at reclaiming the House of Representatives and the Senate with polls showing them slightly ahead or behind Democrats. This comes as in recent weeks, many prominent media outlets have said that Democrats seem to be faring better than they were earlier this year. While many Republicans may dismiss this as media bias, others have wondered if the recent Dobbs v. Jackson’s ruling, which overturned Roe v. Wade, has motivated on-the-fence Democrats to vote.

Many people look to Pennsylvania as an example of the outcome of the 2022 election due to it being a battleground state, a state that can vote either Republican or Democrat. These swing states are highly sought after during presidential election cycles as they often determine the final outcome. They are also a good indicator about how the American public feels about one party or the other. Democrats have chosen John Fetterman as their candidate for Senator while Republicans have chosen TV personality Mehmet Oz. John Fetterman has been heralded as a “man of the people” due to the fact that he is often seen in public wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants. However, Fetterman has faced scrutiny after having a stroke in mid May, with some questioning his ability to represent Pennsylvania as senator as he has slurred his words during many of his speeches. He also has been criticized for receiving $54,000 each year from his father while he was mayor of Braddock, which has undercut his image as a blue-collar worker. Oz has not escaped criticism either. For decades Oz had lived in his mansion in Cliffside, New Jersey only in 2020 did he move to Pennsylvania. He also has made millions of dollars off of his TV program, The Dr. Oz Show. This has caused Fetterman to attack Oz as “elitist” and “out of touch” with most Pennsylvanians. As Election Day inches closer, would-be politicians and elected officials everywhere try to convince their constituents that they deserve another term representing them in Congress. Politics is like the moon, it waxes and wanes. When one party becomes dominant, the other loses power, then regains it next season. If Democrats win this season, then Republicans will win the next, and vice versa. No matter the victor, political battles continue to rage and onlookers inevitably get involved.