Here is What Is At Stake in 2022

2022 will be another critical election year for both parties. Democrats currently have narrow majorities in the House and Senate, which has allowed for the passage of some of the Democrat’s top priorities. The loss of these majorities would make further passage of Biden’s priorities much more difficult. So the midterms are going to be critical.

But there are many more elections going on in 2022. For example, 88 out of 99 state legislatures will be having elections this year. In addition, several governors and other state executives are also on the ballot. And there are also state court elections and ballot measures that can have a huge impact, especially as we see more and more of the courts.

When we think about state legislature and US Congressional races, we also must consider that we are currently going through the process of redistricting, meaning that districts are changing somewhat, and some states are either gaining or losing seats. These changes may benefit Democrats or Republicans, but no matter what they mean, previous assumptions about seats’ safety or competitiveness may be incorrect.

Let’s jump into what’s on the ballot.

We will begin with Texas, our home state. There are 38 congressional seats up for election on the national level. 13 of these seats are currently held by Democrats, 23 by Republicans, and two are new. Both the State House and Senate are up for election on the state level. Republicans currently have majorities in both, allowing them to pass some very controversial laws. Governor Greg Abbott is up for re-election, and it is looking like it will end up with Abbott versus O’Rourke in November. Many other state executives are also up for election, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the State Board of Education. The Texas Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and intermediate appellate courts all have elections for those whose terms expire at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. And there are already two ballot measures about taxes on the ballot.

In North Carolina, the ballot is going to be packed. US Senator Richard Burr, a Republican, is retiring, and the field of candidates is wide, although one Republican has already received Trump’s endorsement. North Carolina is also electing 14 Representatives in 2022. There are currently 5 Democrats and 8 Republicans, and one more seat has been added. All seats in the North Carolina Senate and House are on the ballot. In addition, the North Carolina Supreme Court has two justices up for partisan election, while intermediate appellate courts have 4. There are no ballot measures yet, but at least one has been proposed.

After a big year, things will be a bit quieter in Virginia. 11 Representatives will be elected to US Congress. Currently, there are 7 Democrats and 4 Republicans. There are also two proposed ballot measures. One would make marriage a fundamental right regardless of the gender of the two parties, and the other would restore the right to vote to those with felony convictions. These will be huge if they make it onto the ballot.

As for Georgia, there will be several hotly contested races. Senator Warnock will be running for a full term, and while there are many challenges, he will likely face Hershel Walker, an election fraud fanatic endorsed by Trump. All 14 US House seats are on the ballot, and all seats in the State House and Senate. 4 seats each on both the State Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals are up for nonpartisan election. Governor Brian Kemp will be fighting off attacks from Democrats and some in his party, namely former Senator Perdue, who is weighing a primary challenge. Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and many other state executive positions will also be on the ballot. And there are already two ballot measures, with the possibility of more coming.

Ohio is also going to have a busy election cycle. Senator Rob Portman is retiring, opening up a long-held red seat to Democratic challenges. Ohio lost one congressional seat this census cycle, but the remaining 15 seats are still on the ballot. And all State Senators and Representatives are also up for election. In addition, 3 Republican State Supreme Court Justices are up for re-election along with 27 judges on Courts of Appeals. Finally, Governor DeWine may face some tough challengers due to anger over his handling of the pandemic. Also on the ballot are Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and the State Board of Education. And while no ballot measures have been confirmed, there are already three potential measures.

Lastly, Florida is going to have super important elections throughout 2022. US Senator Marco Rubio is up for re-election. While there is no confirmed opponent he will face, US Representative Val Demings has announced her candidacy, and she is currently the biggest Democratic name. Florida will be voting on 28 US House seats. Democrats currently hold ten, 16 by Republicans, one is now vacant, and one is brand new. The special election to fill the vacancy is scheduled for early January. All State Senate and House members are also up for election, including three special state legislative elections. Governor DeSantis is facing a number of challenges so that he may have a rough election cycle. Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Agriculture Commissioner are also on the ballot. 5 State Supreme Court Justices are up for retention election along with 28 judges on the District Courts of Appeals. There are also two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot so far.

There will be a lot on the ballot in 2022, and we couldn’t go into a lot of the details in this blog, so keep your eyes peeled for our blogs delving into each of the states we will be running in. Rideshare2Vote is committed to getting out the vote this election cycle, and our work has already begun. If you are interested in joining us to reach more voters, we are always looking for more volunteers. We have many volunteer opportunities, so there is a place for you whatever you are interested in. If you want to volunteer with us, click here to learn more.

by Betsy Zalinski