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Writer's pictureReasearch Rose

ARTICLE: Older Americans Will Be a Force in 2022 Elections

Election observers say older Americans again are expected to continue turning out in greater numbers than any other age group.


What's at stake

While 2022 doesn't have the cachet of a presidential election year, the very fabric of governing in America will be up for grabs in scores of congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative races. Here's what's at stake:

  • House of Representatives: All 435 seats are up for election, since all members serve two-year terms. Currently, Democrats control this lower chamber of Congress, but just barely — 222 to 212. Historically, the party in power in the White House loses seats in the first midterm election of a president's tenure. Experts say that redistricting is also likely leading to fewer competitive races and political oddsmakers now favor the GOP to take over the lower chamber.

  • Senate: The future of the Senate is a toss-up. This upper chamber is tied politically 50-50, but because the Democrats control the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris casts the tie-breaking vote for the Democrats in her role as President of the Senate. Every two years about a third of Senate seats are up, because senators serve six-year terms. This year, 20 seats held by the GOP and 14 by Democrats are in play. As of the beginning of the year, six senators announced their retirement — five Republicans and one Democrat.

  • States: There are 20 Republican and 16 Democratic gubernatorial seats up for election and more than 6,000 state legislative seats. Beyond the usual importance these races carry, the COVID pandemic has showed how pivotal governors and state legislators can be, as these officials made the decisions regarding vaccine distribution, COVID testing, mask wearing, and what types of restrictions to place in their states on commerce, schools and other aspects of life. State lawmakers also have sway over everything from how legislative districts are drawn to myriad state laws governing taxes, health care, insurance, infrastructure projects and public safety.



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