The Impact of COVID-19 and Inflation on the US Congressional Elections

The impact of COVID-19 and inflation on the US congressional elections

As the 2022 elections approach their final days, American voters are heading to the polls amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation. Postal and absentee votes are being sent to polling centers. In this context, surveys are providing a clearer narrative of the Democrats’ failures in many states and electoral districts, highlighting the issues that voters are concerned about.

Recent polls, such as the one conducted by a public opinion research center for NBC, indicate that two key issues, namely the economy and immigration, are more likely to sway voters towards Republicans rather than Democrats. The news coverage and reflection of the realities of the economic and societal situation in America have not been favorable to Joe Biden and the Democrats in the third week of October.

The resurgence in fuel prices has become a serious threat, and the release of inflation statistics in the US indicates the severity of rising food prices, which poses a significant risk to the livelihoods of Americans.

In the third week of October, amidst heated debates in the Senate and House of Representatives, the Republicans clearly had the upper hand in discussions related to livelihood and the economy. Alongside this, another serious crisis has hit the Democrats. The issue of borders and illegal immigrants is not something that can easily be justified to voters based on the current behavior of the Biden administration.

Republican governors of southern states have sent detained illegal immigrants to northern regions and Democratic cities like New York and Washington, resulting in a crisis caused by the accumulation of a large number of immigrants and the problems faced by authorities in these areas, which has been reflected in public opinion in these regions.

Republicans have succeeded in shifting the blame for the self-created crisis of illegal immigrants to Democratic northern states. This can be seen in New York, where the Democratic governor, who is seeking reelection in 2022, still maintains a lead over his opponent in polls, although this lead has significantly decreased.

Another key point in these two weeks is the specific discussion on the COVID-19 crisis. It is strange for citizens of other countries to see COVID-19 as an important issue in the current election. On the other hand, Democrats also want to believe that this issue is not important.

But there is a key reality in this area. Regardless of the fact that COVID-19 cases in the United States have not yet reached zero and the crisis has not ended, the issue of managing the COVID-19 crisis is on the minds of American voters. The problem for Democrats goes beyond frustration, and many voters have animosity towards politicians who supported lockdowns and strict regulations on businesses and factories.

Successful candidates are those who have either taken quick action in reopening in their political and executive positions or have been critical politicians of control and shutdowns. For example, this can be seen in the popularity of the current Governor of Georgia, who proudly supports the quick reopening of the state during the COVID-19 crisis, and many Georgians appreciate him for it.

In the final two weeks of the American election, the campaigns have taken a particular direction based on almost final narratives. The Democrats and Biden have been unsuccessful in their efforts to attract voters’ attention to topics such as abortion and the dangers posed by Trumpian candidates. However, there is a special space for their survival as the majority breaker in the Senate. The Senate races in these two weeks are the only hope for the Democrats.

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The stormy start of the 2022 American elections