Republicans favored to win US House in midterm elections

People vote at a fire station in the midterm elections on Nov 8, 2022, in Hialeah, Florida. (LYNNE SLADKY / AP0

WASHINGTON/PHOENIX, Arizona/BIRMINGHAM, Michigan – Republicans were favored to wrest control of the US House of Representatives away from President Joe Biden's Democrats based on early returns in Tuesday's midterm elections, though the prospects of a "red wave" appeared to have dimmed.

With polls closed across most of the country, Republicans had flipped five Democratic seats in the US House, Edison Research projected, the very number needed to capture a majority and cripple Biden's legislative agenda.

Early results suggested Democrats would avoid the type of wipeout election that some in the party had feared, given US President Joe Biden's sagging approval rating and voter frustration over inflation

But importantly, that number can change as close to 200 of the 435 House races had yet to be called, including some with vulnerable Republican incumbents.

Early results suggested Democrats would avoid the type of wipeout election that some in the party had feared, given Biden's sagging approval rating and voter frustration over inflation.

But even a narrow Republican House majority would be able to block Biden's priorities while launching politically damaging investigations into his administration and family.

The US Senate remained too close to call, with pivotal races in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona all looking like toss-ups. The Georgia race could end up in a Dec 6 runoff, possibly with the Senate at stake.

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Democrats currently control the 100-seat Senate with Vice-President Kamala Harris able to break any 50-50 ties.

In addition to every House seat, 35 Senate seats and three dozen governors' races are on the ballot. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, defeated Democratic Representative Charlie Crist, Edison projected.

This AFP graphic dated Nov 7, 2022 shows a composition of the outgoing US House of Representatives and the Senate, and projections for the Nov 8 midterm elections by RealClearPolitics.

In addition to every House seat, 35 Senate seats and three dozen governors' races are on the ballot. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, defeated Democratic Representative Charlie Crist, Edison projected

The final outcome of the congressional races is unlikely to be known any time soon. More than 46 million Americans voted ahead of Election Day, either by mail or in person, according to data from the US Election Project, and state election officials caution that counting those ballots will take time.

Competitive districts

One sign of Republican strength could be found in several competitive House districts that Biden would have won in 2020 under recently redrawn boundaries.

In Virginia's 2nd congressional district, Democratic US Representative Elaine Luria trailed her Republican challenger Jennifer Kiggans by 10 percentage points with more than 90 percent of the expected vote counted. Biden carried that district by two points.

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In Rhode Island's 2nd district, Republican Allan Fung trailed Democrat Seth Magaziner by just 4 percentage points, and was on track to outperform Republican former president Donald Trump who would have lost the district by 14 points in 2020.

Local officials reported isolated problems across the country, including a paper shortage in a Pennsylvania county. In Maricopa County, Arizona – a key battleground – a judge rejected a Republican request to extend voting hours after some tabulation machines malfunctioned.

A Nye County resident casts his vote in the US midterm elections at Bob Ruud Community Center in Pahrump, Nevada on Nov 8, 2022. (RONDA CHURCHILL / AFP)

In swing states such as Arizona, Michigan and Nevada, the Republican nominees to head up the states' election apparatus have embraced Trump's falsehoods, raising fears among Democrats that, if they prevail, they could interfere with the 2024 presidential race

The problems stoked evidence-free claims among Trump and his supporters that the failures were deliberate.

Scores of Republican candidates have echoed Trump's false claims that his 2020 loss to Biden was due to widespread fraud.

In swing states such as Arizona, Michigan and Nevada, the Republican nominees to head up the states' election apparatus have embraced Trump's falsehoods, raising fears among Democrats that, if they prevail, they could interfere with the 2024 presidential race.

"They deny that the last election was legitimate," Biden said on a radio show aimed at Black voters. "They're not sure they're going to accept the results unless they win."

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Trump, who cast his ballot in Florida, has frequently hinted at a third presidential run. He said on Monday that he would make a "big announcement" on Nov 15.

Biden was expected to watch the results from the White House, where the usually quiet corridors were abuzz with aides. A Biden adviser, anticipating a tough evening, said Democrats had done the best they could given higher gas prices and inflation.

Biden was expected to watch the results from the White House, where the usually quiet corridors were abuzz with aides. A Biden adviser, anticipating a tough evening, said Democrats had done the best they could given higher gas prices and inflation

Economic worries

The party that occupies the White House almost always loses seats in midterm elections, but Democrats had hoped the Supreme Court's June decision to overturn the nationwide right to abortion would help them defy that history.

But stubbornly high annual inflation, which at 8.2 percent stands at the highest rate in 40 years, has weighed on their chances throughout the campaign.

"The economy is terrible. I blame the current administration for that," said Bethany Hadelman, who said she voted for Republican candidates in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Fears of rising crime were also a factor in left-leaning areas like New York, where incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul faced a tough challenge from Republican Lee Zeldin.

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"We have criminals constantly repeating crimes. They go to jail and come out a few hours later or the next day," said John Delsanto, 35, a legal assistant in New York City who said he voted for Zeldin.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found just 39 percent of Americans approved of the way Biden has done his job. Some Democratic candidates deliberately distanced themselves from the White House as Biden's popularity languished.

Trump's polling is similarly low, with just 41 percent of respondents to a separate recent Reuters/Ipsos poll saying they viewed him favorably.

A voter arrives to cast a ballot in the midterm elections at the Aspray Boat House in Warwick, Rhode Island on Nov 8, 2022. (DAVID GOLDMAN / AP)

In Congress, a Republican-controlled House would be able to thwart Democratic priorities such as abortion rights and climate change, while a Republican Senate would hold sway over Biden's judicial nominations, including any Supreme Court vacancy.

Republicans could also initiate a showdown over the country's debt ceiling, which could shake financial markets.

Inflation and abortion led the list of issues identified by voters as mattering most to their ballots in the 2022 US midterm elections, according to the NBC News Exit Poll released Tuesday evening

Republicans will have the power to block aid to Ukraine if they win back control of Congress, but analysts say they are more likely to slow or pare back the flow of defense and economic assistance.

Inflation, abortion: Voters' top concerns

Inflation and abortion led the list of issues identified by voters as mattering most to their ballots in the 2022 US midterm elections, according to the NBC News Exit Poll released Tuesday evening.

The pool found that nearly one-third of voters named inflation and 27 percent named abortion when asked which issue mattered most this year.

Trailing these concerns were crime and gun policy – each named by 12 percent of voters, followed by immigration, which stood at 10 percent.

READ MORE: US inflation rises more than expected

Across the country, Republican candidates have emphasized crime, inflation, and immigration as part of their campaign messaging.

Many Republican voters shared these concerns, the NBC poll showed, with 44 percent naming inflation as the most important issue, followed by immigration.

By contrast, Democrats were overwhelmingly concerned about abortion, with 46 percent naming it as the most important issue, followed by inflation and gun policy