What Are The US Midterm Elections?

By: Seat Earnings

Critical November vote will decide who controls Congress and determine the future of President Joe Biden’s agenda. 

What are the midterm elections?

The midterms take place two years after a presidential election, mid-way through a US president’s four-year term. Typically, about one-third of the seats in the 100-member US Senate are up for grabs, along with all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives.

How are seats in the House and Senate distributed?

Each state, regardless of its population, gets two Senate seats, while House seats are distributed to the states based on their size.  For example, California – the most populous state – has 52 House members and Wyoming – the least populous state – has one. But both states each have two senators. 

When is the election?

This year, the midterms will take place on November 8.  Major US elections are held on the first Tuesday of November, unless that first Tuesday falls on the first day of the month. In that case, the vote happens a week later – on November 8. 

Why are US elections held so frequently?

The main reason is that House terms are only two years. Senate terms are six years, so whether it’s a presidential or midterm election year, 33 to 34 Senate seats are typically up for grabs every two years, too.

Is President Biden’s name going to be on the ballot?

In US politics, the president is elected for a four-year term and is not up for re-election in the midterms. But while Biden’s name will not be on any ballots, his administration’s perceived successes – and failures – can still affect the results. 

Is Trump playing a role in the midterms?

It is not common for a former president to play an outsized role in the midterms, but Trump is not a common political figure. He has successfully backed dozens of candidates in Republican primaries before the November vote as he continues to tease another possible White House run in 2024.

Thanks For Reading