American Midterm Election Results: A Sigh of Relief

Ever since the storming of Capital Hill on January 6, 2021, there is a kind of growing unease among the elite: all are worried that American liberal democracy is under threat. And this has been further accentuated by the attempted attack on Ms Nancy Pelosi, in which the hammer-holding trespasser broke into her house and hospitalized her 82-year-old husband. The very fact of Mr Trump and the senior Republicans failing to condemn it, though not surprising, has further worsened these fears.

It is against this backdrop that the midterm elections to both houses acquired significance. For, most of the contestants from the Republican side either for Federal or state-wide offices are said to be believers of the claim that the presidency was stolen from Mr Donald Trump by Democrats in 2020. This compelled one to wonder if the very American system of democracy and its governance are on the ballot.

That being the reality, everyone anticipated that democrats are in for a drubbing. For, the sitting president’s approval rating is stuck far below 50 percent and inflation is at a 40-year high. And what matters to the common voter is their soaring oil prices and the sustainability of welfare. Protecting the republic and its democratic character comes next. Indeed, that is the concern of the elite, perhaps. Thus the political scenario was progressively turning nastier.

The scenario has become so nastier that in a television chat, Israeli professor, Yuval Noah Harari—author of the book: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind—responding to the lamenting of the host at a “slate of election deniers” running for posts in the midterm elections, categorically stated: “the next presidential election could be the last democratic election in US history—it is not a high chance, but it could be the case”.

Now, the wonder is: How an erudite historian—and remember, he is not a politician—could air such a prediction about American democracy? Yes, with the widespread election denialism and the fact that today political differences are defined more by personal allegiances and hatreds rather than by ideologies, a kind of anarchy is creeping in. Indeed, that’s what is happening today in most of democracies. So, one cannot take Harari’s prediction lightly, instead, every citizen should get shocked by it and act—act to keep democracy safe on the pedestal.

Amidst this scenario, Joe Biden, the seasoned politician finally took a plunge into midterm election campaigning, terming midterm elections are just all about democracy and nothing but democracy, warned the electorate: “Americans can’t take democracy for granted any longer”. It is a daring move of Mr Biden that instead of paying attention to the “kitchen-table” concerns of America’s middle-level voters, to stay focussed on enlightening the electorate about the threat to democracy—you are choosing between two “fundamentally different visions of America”—and the paramount need to protect it. In a similar vein, former President Barack Obama exhorted the voters: “If you are angry and frustrated right now, don’t complain. Go vote. Don’t tune out. …Get off your couch and do what? Put down your phones and do what? Vote…”

As against this, Republicans, enjoying the distinct advantage of highlighting the poor economy and the surging inflation as the dominant concerns, approached the voters promising ‘America first’ and a tight border control policy. Mr Trump campaigned for Republicans saying, “Democrats want to turn America into communist Cuba or Socialist Venezuela”.

And, ultimately, on the day of reckoning, the American voter stood up: Proved Mr Joe Biden is right by caring for democracy. And the Republicans, who went into elections as heavy favorites duly backed by the historical pattern of midterm elections, were to witness many reversals—Mr Trump-backed, election-denying candidates did poorly. So is the case with those who vocally opposed abortion rights. Interestingly, Trump’s main rival within the Republican party, Florida governor, Mr Ron DeSantis won the re-election convincingly. It is, of course, quite premature to expect him to seize the opportunity and push himself forward into the 2024 elections though, many are rooting for it.

As against this, Mr Biden came out relatively unscathed with his call, “Character is on the ballot”: Democrats now have 50 Senate seats to Republicans’ 49, while the Republicans are all set to enjoy the majority in the House of Representatives. The control of the House of Representatives is likely to create problems for Mr Biden: may start investigating the laws passed by Mr Biden in the last two and half years and may even stall the ongoing investigation into the Capital Hill episode. So, all is not hunky- dory to democrats either.

Nevertheless, we must admit that American voters have finally dispelled the gathering dark clouds over their democratic system to a considerable degree. Indeed, breathed life into democracy everywhere. And a weaker-than-expected showing by Republicans is indeed welcomed by the European nations as that would ensure continuity in the ongoing efforts to isolate Russia and support Ukraine—at least for now.  

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