How Will the 2022 Midterm Elections Impact North Carolina and Washington DC? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation. The author of this post is Brittany Raymer.

    It's a month before the 2022 midterm elections, and it seems likely that a change in power is coming for Washington DC and North Carolina. With the Republicans likely to take control of the Senate and the House at the national level, the question turns to if Republicans may secure a super majority in the General Assembly.

    A midterm election is usually a referendum on the policies of the presidential administration. As the economy appears to tank even further and it's likely that gas prices will be on the rise yet again, the people seem poised to push against Biden's flailing governance.

    One of the biggest surprises in terms of voter concern is crime. According to a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, "crime and public safety are proving to be a potent mix of issues in the midterm elections."

    Democrats have made defunding the police and lax prosecution a seemingly critical part of their platform in recent years, which has resulted in a noticeable increase in crime across the country. It's especially pronounced in Democrat run cities.

    This is in addition to the spiraling economic situation.

    In a Monmouth University poll, it found that 82% of Americans ranked inflation as an extremely or very important issue. Abortion, which many on the liberal side of the aisle thought would swing the election in their favor, is a top worry for only 56% of Americans.

    In a recent Civitas Poll, North Carolinian's are reportedly finding it more difficult to afford the prices of gas, food and housing, with gas being the most challenging expense.

    Speaking of gas, that is set to rise again as Saudi Arabia and Russia recently announced a decision to cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day in a "rebuke to President Biden," according to The Washington Post. As pain at the pump returns, voters will likely make their frustrations known via their ballot.

    The possibility of a red wave seems rather assured, as Americans will want to make their frustrations known about the direction of the country.

    When it comes to the elections here in North Carolina, it appears that the Senate race between Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd is tight. In particular, Beasley is seeing lots of financial support from progressive groups, as recently reported by Jim Stirling of the John Locke Foundation.

    At this point, the race for North Carolina's Senate seat appears to be in a virtual tie and is ranked by CNN as the 6th most likely state to flip from red to blue.

    The question turns to whether or not Republicans are able to secure a super majority in the General Assembly, which may moderate some of Gov. Roy Cooper's progressive policies.

    If you would like to hear about more of the political landscape in North Carolina before the 2022 midterms, consider attending the Shaftesbury Society lunch on Monday, October 10. The Carolina Journal team will provide a breakdown of these issues and provide a fresh perspective on the 2022 election cycle.

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