Voters have the political destiny of the United States in their hands when they take the midterm ballot. 2022 US Midterm Elections

Millions of Americans turned out to vote on Tuesday. 2022 midterm elections, A series of fierce scrambles to determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress and major state and local offices over the next two years.of result Also helps determine if it’s 2020 election opposition It could gain more political power and set the stage for even more discord among increasingly difficult voters.

Voters across the country expressed a range of pressing concerns, including continued attacks on reproductive rights and concerns about the economy and crime. Many also described growing concerns about voter disenfranchisement, including possible challenges to accurate election results and protracted lawsuits that could sow dangerous seeds of distrust in the U.S. electoral system.

In Columbus, Ohio, Ashley Shika said she voted Democrat Tim Ryan The US Senate dispute was decided after the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade decision.

“I voted based on my values. It may not necessarily be something I do, but I’m just thinking globally about the choices others should have. I don’t think I should be responsible for what I do with my body,” said Shika, whose polling place is Ohio’s largest Greek Orthodox church.

Sica, a nurse, said Roe’s decision encouraged many women to vote in the midterm elections, otherwise they probably wouldn’t. She also explained her fear that Republicans are against stricter gun control laws despite a string of deadly school shootings.

“My kids’ daycare is just a mile from here. There was an issue with someone shooting a gun around the daycare. That’s one more reason,” Shika said. “Having school-age kids is really focused on that sort of thing, thinking about their safety and the safety of others.”

Another Columbus resident, Jeffrey Wiseman, is a best-selling author who voted for the Republican Senate candidate. JD Vance, although not very enthusiastic. “I voted Republican almost my entire life, and that’s my main reason,” Weisman said.

Vance is Slight Poll Lead It surpassed Ryan in states where Republicans now have a sizeable majority. The close race in Ohio somewhat reflects the strength of Ryan’s campaign for seats that could determine whether his party controls the Senate.

The close race also reflected voters’ doubts about Vance’s integrity. He has moved away dramatically from calling Trump a “fraud” and a “moral wreck” and has become a staunch supporter for winning Trump’s endorsement in the Republican primary.

Weisman, a retail jewelry store owner, said it doesn’t matter if Vance has Trump’s endorsement. And with the Democrats in charge, I feel things aren’t going in the right direction,” he said. I hope that.”

Weisman, a two-time Trump presidential voter, said he hoped the former commander-in-chief would not participate in the 2024 election. “It’s a big deal. I like his politics. His mouth scares a lot of people. So personally, I don’t think he wins because of his ‘controversial nature.’ I don’t think he can, and I think it’s going to be a tough road for him.

Pennsylvania voters were choosing one of the states ahead of one of the closest U.S. Senate elections. John Fettermanthe state’s Democratic lieutenant governor, and Mehmet Oz, a celebrity Republican doctor.

holding Fetterman Commander In polls over the months, Oz has since closed the gap.Fetterman had a stroke still have difficulty speaking and understanding other speakers, as revealed in discussion With Oz two weeks ago. Fetterman and his team argued that he could work and serve as a senator.Oz’s campaign teased his health.

Steve Schwartz, who just voted for Oz in Beaver County, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, said, “I liked Fetterman, but the guy had a stroke.” You don’t even want to hire him, and he’ll be disabled for a while.” He said he was “seriously” about Mr. Mann.

Beaver County named after the Beaver River Also Named after a Lenape chief, King Beaver, or an animal with a flat tail. voted for donald trump 2016 and 2020. The former president’s winning percentage was smaller than in other Pennsylvania counties.

Mike Moore, a 41-year-old loan closer, said he voted for Fetterman.

“I like the way he does it. I’ve met him a few times and he seems like a real, real man. I just don’t like it.” Dr. Ozhe doesn’t live in Pennsylvania, so it’s kind of like: “How can he represent me?” Oz claims to have moved to Pennsylvania in late 2020.

For Moore, the most important issue was “bipartisanship,” which seems unlikely given the tone of this election cycle. “This country is polarized right now. It’s a shame,” said Moore. “You know, we have to work together. We have to be Americans.”

in Lansing, MichiganRep. Elissa Slotkin – who is running for the country’s most expensive congressional election – said she was bracing for attempts to undermine the state’s election results.

“This is what happens when a culture of leadership is set up in our country that seeks to undermine democracy when one side loses,” she said after the vote, after the Eastern High School movement I said on the small patch of neatly mowed lawn outside the department.

“You never know what your opponent will do if you lose. The good news is that I saw this movie in 2020.

A judge on Monday ruled that their claims lacked “a scant amount of evidence” and dismissed an attempt by Republicans to get the vote in Detroit.

Slotkin said inflation was definitely on everyone’s mind in Michigan, but a vote initiative to protect abortion in Michigan was swayed by the Roe v. Wade decision in July by the U.S. Supreme Court. “I attended a rally in Michigan last night with the campus organizers.” Law vs Wade It really motivates students,” says Slotkin.

In nearby Detroit, at a polling station at the Greater Grace Temple, northwest of the city, 35-year-old Chosori Namhad said she decided to vote. support constitutional reform It would dramatically expand Michigan’s voting power. Mumuhad, 35, said she only voted twice for Barack Obama, in 2008 she voted once and in 2012 she voted twice, but she said of her decision: says.

Another voter here, 72-year-old Ruth Drains, said she always participates in elections. protect Access to abortion. “I don’t like the fact that they’re trying to take away women’s rights, because some women have been raped and I don’t want to be reminded of that,” Dreines said.

In Kentucky, Ona Marshall, who co-owns one of the state’s two remaining abortion clinics, said her polling place in Louisville was overflowing with voters around 11 a.m. “I’ve never seen so many people, even in my presidential year. This is in the morning,” Marshall said.

The vote in Kentucky is Amendment 2 to restrict abortion in Kentucky. It’s unclear whether the surge in voters will vote for or against the amendment, but Marshall remains optimistic.

“No matter what happens, it is very important for our country and our democracy to have high voter turnout every election, and it is definitely hopeful to see that in the midterm elections,” Marshall said. .

This morning in Georgia, Avondale Estates voter Coleman Williams said he felt the weight of the midterm elections. Georgia voters must choose between Democrat Stacey Abrams and incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp in the gubernatorial election.

“I’ve seen the debate and there’s so much at stake for everyone,” Williams said. I know I have to leave, so I have hope.

Worried about the future of the country, some voters voted early just in case. One of them was Beverly Harvey, a retired bingo host in his sprawling community of over 55s, The Villages, in central Florida.

“Most of my friends and I voted early. We wanted to make sure we got the votes to try to save this country if we didn’t live long enough to vote on Election Day,” said the 75-year-old. said Harvey.

Harvey’s biggest concerns were borders, crime, and the economy. “We need to act on behalf of the people here. We understand that they need to escape their living conditions, but there are also many people in this country who live in poor conditions. said Harvey. Regarding the crime, “I have four grandchildren of him, two of whom are in college. I pray for their safety every day, wherever they are.”

Meanwhile, Harvey and her friends are reeling from the rising cost of living. Over the years, they kept saving, Harvey said, not to make retirement “expensive,” but just to live comfortably.

“We’ve lost so much of our savings toward retirement that we really have to cut everything,” Harvey said. She said she voted “almost” a “straight Republican”. She explained the small number of Democrats Harvey voted for.