The Midterm Report: Republicans backed Trump after insurrection, debate ditching him after losses

Ten days after the U.S. midterm elections, the Republicans have reclaimed the House. But by avoiding a "red wave," the Democratic Party completed a historic feat, offering them a best-case scenario heading into the second half of President Joe Biden’s term.

While pundits and pollsters alike predicted a massive victory by Republicans, it appears American voters cast their ballots to preserve democracy.

It wasn’t just politicians on the ballot, either. Legalizing cannabis, codifying the right to abortion, and expanding voting rights were just a few examples of ballot measures voted on last week.

Three states voted against legalizing cannabis: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas.

Meanwhile, cannabis is set to become legal in Maryland in July 2023. Missouri also approved legalized cannabis, but with an important caveat — that the legislation would also allow for some prisoners to become eligible for release or parole. 

Californians voted against legalizing online sports betting, a decision that came after nearly $370 million was spent pushing for voters to approve the measure.

Some states also had victories on the subject of voting rights. For the first time, voters in Connecticut will have the opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of election day after early voting legislation passed in that state.

Michigan also voted yes on expanding voter access through legislation that would also require a nine-day early voting period. 

It was a night of celebration for abortion rights advocates too. Michigan voters approved a measure that codifies the right to abortion, while Vermont voters approved the right to reproductive autonomy. California also approved and enshrined the right to abortion in their state constitution through a ballot initiative.

A major victory for workers rights came in Illinois where a historic measure passed, making the state the first to enshrine constitutional protections against anti-union "right-to-work" laws.

And in Tennessee, voters approved an amendment to the constitution that would ban all types of slavery. The legislation prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude as forms of punishment for individuals who are convicted of crimes. 

House control could depend on vacancies

While Democrats avoided massive losses in the House and even managed to flip a seat in the Senate, it’s not all good news for democracy.

More than 210 Republicans who questioned or denied the results of the 2020 presidential election emerged victorious, proving GOP voters still have an appetite for challenging the results of democratic elections.

And while Republicans celebrate their self-characterized "firing" of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — who announced Thursday she would step down from her role after nearly 20 years — the majority they hold in Congress remains so slim that it can be jeopardized by a single GOP member stepping down, passing away, or crossing the aisle.

But even that scenario assumes the 118th Congress will have no vacancies. That would be a miracle considering there hasn’t been a single day during the current Congressional makeup without a vacancy in the House. 

In fact, there were four vacancies in February 2021, eventually going as high as seven.

Pelosi wasn’t the only high-profile Democrat to step down from her post on Thursday. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced the same day he wouldn’t be seeking a leadership position in the next session of Congress, instead endorsing New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to succeed him. 

Gen-Z in Congress and a Survivor winner strikes again in state race

Led by Joe Biden, the Democratic Party bucked historical trends dating back nearly 100 years. 

The state Senate in Michigan flipped to Democrats for the first time since 1983.

The Democratic Party also made history by electing the first member of Gen-Z to Congress. At just 25, Maxwell Alejandro Frost beat his Republican opponent in Florida’s 10th Congressional District.

Newly-elected Sen. John Fetterman wasn’t the only big winner in Pennsylvania last week. Democrat Summer Lee also won in the 12th District, becoming the state’s first Black woman elected to Congress.

Elsewhere, Hamida Dakane is set to become the first Muslim woman of color to serve in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

Fans of the reality TV competition series Survivor will see a familiar face in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Nick Wilson, who won the $1 million prize on Survivor: David v. Goliath, and returned for Survivor: Winners at War, ran a successful race under the Republican banner. 

A look ahead to 2024

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump announced his third run for the White House. The move comes as Trump, who lost the popular vote in his first two initial bids and faced two impeachments, faces mounting pressure from all sides.

The chronically corrupt and morally bankrupt creator of brands like Trump Energy Drink, Trump Lamps, and Trump Eyewear is currently being investigated by the New York Attorney General for his business dealings. He’s also involved in litigation in Georgia involving election tampering; he's being sued by a columnist who accused him of rape; and he's been subpoenaed to testify in the January 6th Select Committee. Oh, did I forget to mention his property was raided by FBI agents looking for stolen classified documents?

But Trump’s announcement to run came hours after he secured a major deal.

According to The New York Times, Trump kicked off his campaign by signing a deal with a Saudi Arabian company to develop Trump-branded properties in Oman. The deal is worth a reported $1.6 billion. 

While five Congressional races have yet to be called, one final Senate race is scheduled for a run-off on December 3 — forcing the midterm elections to continue into the next few weeks.