As the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency comes around, it’s time that we think about the political party that has control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. For those of us who may not know what the midterm elections are, here is a breakdown of what they are and why they are important.
According to the U.S. Vote Foundation, the midterm elections are the elections that determine which political party holds the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. These elections are held every two years, halfway through the four-year presidential term. The U.S. Vote Foundation also speaks on why these elections are important to you as a voter. “Midterm elections give YOU, the voter, the opportunity to decide which party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate,” according to the U.S. Vote Foundation. Voting shows the current administration how you feel about their actions.
I personally do not agree with this administration and how they are handling immigration policies. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently abusing the power they were given. According to MPR News, ICE is “detaining” children as young as five years old and essentially using them as bait to lure out their families to be taken to detention centers and eventually deported.
Another news story you may have heard recently is the murder of Alex Pretti. According to the New York Times, they were able to debunk the narrative created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that Mr. Pretti had come up to officers in an aggressive way. Why are we killing US citizens, infringing on their First Amendment right and disguising their killings as an act of violence against federal officials? Nothing that is happening is morally right.
According to the U.S. Vote Foundation there are 35 seats up for election in the Senate for a six-year term. As for the House of Representatives, all 435 seats will be open and on the ballot, serving for two years.
According to congress.gov, the Senate is currently under the control of Republicans, with a slight majority for Republicans at 53 seats to the 45 Democratic seats and two Independent seats. As for the House of Representatives, the Republican House is also the majority leading with 219 representatives to the 212 Democratic seats taken. President approval ratings show 55% of voters disagree with the Trump administration and the way things are being run, according to the New York Times. Even comparing him to former presidents such as President Joe Biden, President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, his approval ratings run much lower than those of others.
If you are a voter who agrees with that 55% disapproval rate, now is your time to do something about it. Advocate for democratic representatives, do your research for those running for seats in your state, and educate yourself on who you think is best to take one of those seats. Every vote is important and every vote counts, even if you think you’re not “politically educated enough.”
Nothing changes unless you take charge and make a change, like voting in your local and state polls. Every vote counts towards what you want to see in your town, county and state. Only you can educate yourself, and we as communities and voters can make a change. According to the U.S. Vote Foundation, there are 35 seats for the taking in the Senate, and with enough voters voting blue, it is very possible to sway the majority to Democrats.
Arkayde Smith can be contacted at
arsmith@kscequinox.com
