The essential
- Americans are voting in an electric climate for a multitude of ballots which will condition Joe Biden’s room for maneuver until the presidential election of 2024, a deadline already in the sights of his rival Donald Trump.
- A sign of strong interest, more than 40 million voters voted in advance to renew the entire House of Representatives, a third of the Senate, a whole series of local elected positions and decide dozens of referendums.
- American conservatives, Donald Trump in the lead, denounced technical incidents located in polling stations. The former American president going so far as to call on his supporters to “contest”.
- The race for Congress is much tighter than announced between Republicans and Democrats. In the Senate, Joe Biden’s party may well come out with a very slight advantage. According to figures from shortly before 7 a.m., the Democrats would be in the lead by a small seat: 47 to 46 for the Conservatives. It takes 51 seats to obtain an absolute majority. In 2020, the two parties had split with 50 seats each.
- Democrats win strategic Senate seat in Pennsylvania. John Fetterman snatches the job against Trumpist superstar surgeon Mehmet Oz, in one of the most scrutinized duels of the midterm elections.
11:57 a.m. – Accusations of fraud in Arizona
Localized technical incidents marred the elections in Arizona. Enough in this very Trumpist state to suspect fraud. The former president has also stirred up doubts about the regularity of voting operations.
To find out more: Midterms: in Arizona, already accusations of electoral fraud
11:45 a.m. – Maps to better understand the results
The midterms are much tighter than expected, and should be played at the “photo-finish”. To better understand the first results, these four maps can help you.
Discover them in our article: Midterms: tight results in 4 cards
11:34 a.m. – Russian-US relations will remain “bad” after the elections
Regardless of the election result, relations between Washington and Moscow will not change, according to Russia. “These elections, basically, can’t change anything. Our relations are bad for the moment and will remain so,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
10:40 a.m. – Biden, better than Obama?
A slap was announced for the American president. Finally, Joe Biden could do better than his predecessors during the midterms. According to Mathieu Gallard, of Ifop, the Democrats should only lose about fifteen seats in the Chamber. “We are far from the routs of Obama 2010 (- 64 elected), Clinton 1994 (- 54) or even the defeat of Trump in 2018 (- 42). It will look like the midterms of 1978: – 15 seats for Carter’s Democrats “, he notes. Regarding the Senate, “it’s still very uncertain and we may have to wait for the second round on December 6 in Georgia, but for now the Democrats seem better placed than the Republicans to maintain their narrow majority. And maybe even to enlarge it”.
️ In the House, the Democrats will only lose about fifteen seats at worst: we are far from the Obama 2010 routs (-64 elected), Clinton 1994 (-54) or even Trump’s defeat in 2018 (-42 ). It will look like the midterms of 1978: -15 seats for Carter’s Democrats.
— mathieu gallard (@mathieugallard) November 9, 2022
10:31 a.m. – Generation Z in the Chamber for the first time
At 25, Maxwell Frost represents the next generation of politics in the United States. He is also the first of Generation Z to be elected to the House of Representatives. This young African-American, raised by an adoptive mother of Cuban origin, will decide in the lower house – where the average age is 58 – among white faces and gray hair. “We wrote history for Floridians, for gen Z and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future,” the Democrat tweeted after his victory was announced.
9:40 a.m. – Surprise in Kentucky: abortion should remain protected
Midterms are also an opportunity in some states to pass amendments. In Kentucky, a conservative state, residents had to agree – or not – to amend the local constitution regarding abortion. If yes, the constitution would no longer protect abortion. And, surprise, it is the “no” that should pass, as noted by Corentin Sellin, associate professor of history specializing in the United States. Another state, another amendment: Recreational cannabis has been legalized in Missouri and Maryland.
08:53 – The Senate in blue, the House of Representatives in red?
The partial results give the Senate to the Democrats, with a small seat lead (48 to 47). It takes 51 seats for the majority. The House of Representatives is promised to the Republicans. Donald Trump’s party would win 179 seats according to 8:36 a.m. figures.
08:48 – Landslide victory for DeSantis, the rising star of the Republicans
Slayer of “wokism”, rising star of the hard right, Republican Ron DeSantis was triumphantly re-elected governor of Florida on Tuesday evening, a resounding victory which cements his status as president against Donald Trump and resolutely tilts this once undecided state to the right. . Although neither of the two men has yet announced their candidacy for 2024, the race for the Republican nomination may well have unofficially begun this November 8. “For me, the fight has just begun,” Ron DeSantis, 44, said in his victory speech. According to US media projections, the man who launched an incendiary campaign against the Biden administration and made Florida a laboratory for his ideas won between 57 and 59% of the vote against Democrat Charlie Crist. “I think the survival of what makes America requires a resurrection of true American principles. Florida proves that it can be done,” he added to cheers.
08:14 – For McCarthy, victory is assured in the House of Representatives
“It’s clear we’re going to take back the House,” Republican tenor Kevin McCarthy said during a speech amid a tense election night marked by a laborious vote count. The tidal wave of the conservatives in the American mid-term elections seems all the same more limited than expected.
07:34 – Which states to watch for the Senate?
Three states are particularly scrutinized for their strategic roles. Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona are the strategic states. The first city is won by John Fetterman. In Georgia, the score is still particularly tight, when in Arizona the Democrat Mark Kelly seems to be detached, even if the race is still long: barely 50% of the ballots have been counted.
07:23 – An important victory for the Democrats in Pennsylvania
The Democrats won a potentially decisive seat for control of the Senate on Wednesday morning, with the victory of John Fetterman in Pennsylvania against a Trumpist candidate, according to the American channels Fox News and NBC. A bald colossus weakened by a stroke suffered in May, John Fetterman faced superstar surgeon Mehmet Oz in one of the most scrutinized duels of the mid-term elections. “We bet on the people of Pennsylvania – and you didn’t let us down. And I won’t let you down,” the Democrat immediately responded, thanking voters. John Fetterman was opposite Mehmet Oz, long at the head of a very popular medical program. The two men have clashed a lot over the months with little killer phrases and “memes”, these diverted images that delight social networks. The seat, hitherto held by a Republican, could be decisive for control of the upper house and therefore for the rest of Joe Biden’s term.
07:05 – Technical incidents during localized votes
Technical problems with voting machines have been detected in several states. The independent organization Vote.org confirmed in a statement the existence of “technical problems with voting machines in some states”. Donald Trump reacted very quickly, calling on his candidates to challenge the results: “This is happening in large numbers, and elsewhere. Challenge, challenge, challenge!” hammered the American billionaire. In the event of a problem, an alternative solution is provided. Voters can deposit their ballots in a “secure box”, which will then be opened “later in the evening” to count the votes with machines in good working order, wanted to reassure a State concerned.