Following the controversy that surrounded the 2016 US elections, the 2018 mid-terms promise to be consequential. From influencing the likelihood of the House of Representatives impeaching President Trump, through to the after effects of a potential female wave, the mid-terms will influence the US political scene in important ways.
Along with a tandem event on November 7th, the Making Sense of the US Midterms series is designed to help experts and general readers understand the context of the elections, and what they mean moving forward.
The series is curated by Rob Ledger (Schiller University) and Peter Finn (Kingston University).
The midterms have just set the stage for a tough 2020 presidential fight
The 2018 midterm elections were like no other in recent memory: record turnout combined with vitriolic rhetoric from the current occupant of the White House – President Donald Trump. Peter Finn and Robert Ledger write that ahead of the 2020 presidential election, both the Democratic and Republican parties will […]
In the midterms, much of the Democrats’ Blue Wave hit a Republican Red Wall
Unlike the 2016 presidential election, in this year’s midterms, the pollsters for the most part got it right. Ronald Ranta writes that the polls were also correct in predicting two elections – one where the Democrats would dominate in US House and state races, and the other for the […]
The midterms have shown that President Trump’s campaign rhetoric on the economy has come back to haunt him
It has been long argued that the US economy has a massive influence on elections. But the Democrats’ midterm successes in the face of a Republican administration presiding over a healthy economy may have called that commonly held view into question. Helen Thompson writes that this new apparent disconnect […]
The Democrats are about to remind us that while Donald Trump has great freedom in foreign policy, it’s Congress which holds the purse strings
One of the main prerogatives of the presidency compared to Congress is its freedom in foreign policy: to make treaties, negotiate agreements and to deploy troops. But while Congress cannot set foreign policy, writes Jeremi Suri, it can influence it through the power of its purse. He argues that […]
Six reasons why you should care about the 2018 midterm elections
Next week Americans will go to the polls to determine who will represent them in their state governments and in Washington DC. Peter Finn and Robert Ledger look at why the 2018 midterm elections will be consequential for President Donald Trump and the Mueller investigation into him, the future […]
Why November 6th could mark the beginning of the end of Donald Trump’s presidency
As the first real referendum on the Trump administration, the coming midterm elections may yet mark a turning point in Donald Trump’s presidency. Mark Shanahan writes that if the Democratic Party is able to make significant inroads back into Congress following the November 6th vote, then Trump’s presidency will […]
Here are five ways a Democratic US House might try to impeach Donald Trump
It looks increasingly likely that the Democratic Party will retake the US House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections. If there is such a takeover, the temptation for House Democrats to launch impeachment proceedings against President Trump may be too difficult to ignore. Allan J. Lichtman outlines five […]
Why we should expect gains for Democratic women in the House on November 6th
Various news outlets and researchers are saying the 2018 midterm elections will be ‘(Another) Year of the Woman’ and Midterm Election coverage continues to focus on women as a key group to watch. Samantha Pettey delves into why researchers expect such big gains by women in 2018 – which […]
Why it’s all to play for in the 2018 midterm elections
This year’s midterm elections are seen by many as the most important non-presidential contest in many years. But one pressing concern remains: following Donald Trump’s shock 2016 election victory, is it still possible to trust the polls? Ronald Ranta argues that, but for a few Midwestern states, the 2016 […]
Trump’s tax cut was a well-timed giveaway for the midterms
When we talk about elections, the role of the economy inevitably looms large. Less than a year ago, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut bill, which alongside increased spending, may stimulate economic growth until 2019. Linda Yueh writes that the Trump-sponsored tax cut and fiscal stimulus are likely […]
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