contents
On November 8, the Americans will re-elect the entire House of Representatives and around a third of the Senate with its 100 seats. In the following US states it will be decided whether the Democrats can hold their wafer-thin majority in the small chamber.
Georgia: In the state far south, Republican Herschel Walker is running for a Senate seat. Walker is a sports legend in Georgia thanks to a successful football career. He is to defeat the reigning Raphael Warnock. Herschel Walker was allegedly persuaded by Donald Trump to go into politics. He stumbles from one scandal to the next. Again and again he was convicted of lying. Two women claim Walker, who describes himself as anti-abortion, once paid for them to have abortions.
Legend:
Republican Herschel Walker is considered a sports legend in Georgia.
Keystone/EPA/JOHN AMIS
Nevada: In 2016, Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto was the first Latina to be elected to the Senate in Nevada. Now her seat is considered high risk. In states like Nevada, Democrats appear to be losing support among Latinos, a constituency that traditionally has overwhelmingly voted Democrats. Republican Adam Laxalt could benefit.
Legend:
Catherine Cortez Masto fears for her seat in Nevada.
REUTERS/David Swanson
Pennsylvania: John Fetterman, the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, is running for the Democrats and is supposed to fill the vacant seat. Fetterman is considered a progressive Democrat. The fact that Fetterman had a stroke some time ago raised doubts as to whether he was up to the task. With the support of Donald Trump, Mehmet Oz positioned himself on the Republican side. «Dr. Oz” is a political neophyte – a surgeon who became rich with his health program on television.
Arizona: Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, must defend his seat. His opponent is Blake Masters, a young Republican supported by Donald Trump who is making the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was cheated. Arizona is considered a state where the tale of the stolen election has struck particularly deep roots.
Wisconsin: Mandela Barnes would be the first African American Senator from Wisconsin. The state’s young lieutenant governor wants to oust Republican Ron Johnson’s seat after twelve years in office. Barnes’ opponents describe him as too progressive, as “soft on crime”, i.e. not tough enough when dealing with criminals – a charge that many Democrats are currently having to listen to.
Ohio: Here Donald Trump has won twice as a Republican presidential candidate. But Republican JD Vance – author of the bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy” and capital manager – is considered a weak candidate. He’s ahead in the polls (and has Trump’s support), but struggled in the fight for that vacant seat. This may have something to do with the fact that Vance is up against veteran Democrat Tim Ryan, who has been in the House of Representatives since 2003.
Legend:
JD Vance was able to count on the support of ex-President Trump during the election campaign.
Keystone/EPO/DAVID MAXWELL
New Hampshire: Republican Don Bolduc, a former general, is up against incumbent Senator Maggie Hassan. Bolduc is considered an outspoken “election denier”, i.e. has openly declared that the 2020 presidential election was cheated in favor of Joe Biden.
North Carolina: After three terms in office, Republican Richard Burr is not running for re-election. Democrat Cheri Beasley, currently Chief Justice on the state Supreme Court, wants to win the seat for the Democrats. Her opponent, Republican Ted Budd, is currently in the House of Representatives.