What are the US midterms and why are they important?
The US midterm elections are on 8 November 2022 and the outcome will have a major impact on the last two years of Joe Biden’s presidency. The results may also help us determine who might run to be the Republican presidential candidate for 2024 and who could possibly be elected as president.
Understanding the midterms
The midterm elections are for the US Congress – which is made up of two parts – the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The midterms are held every two years and when they fall in between a president’s four-year term they are called the midterms.
What does Congress do?
Congress make nationwide laws.
The House of Representatives decides which laws are voted on while the Senate can block or approve them, confirm appointments made by the president and conduct investigations against the president.
Senators and Representatives
Each state has two senators, who sit for six-year terms.
Representatives serve for two years and represent smaller districts.
What’s up for grabs in this November election?
Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election in November, as well as one-third of the Senate.
Some major states also have elections for their governor and local officials.
