What Can You Expect to See in the Midterm Elections?

The stunning victory of Senator Scott Brown in the January 19 special election in Massachusetts confirmed what we in politics have known for months: we’re in for a wild ride.

As the 2010 election season officially kicked off Feb. 2 with the Illinois primaries, campaigns around the country are already shifting into high gear. So what can you expect to see in the mid-term elections this year? We break it down for you and highlight some of the key things to watch in the months leading up to November.

The Fall of Incumbents

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, an astounding 63 percent of likely voters think the country would be better off if the majority of the current Congress wasn’t reelected this November. Economically harmful and unpopular legislation such as the stimulus package and failed healthcare reform have left the electorate angry and frustrated, and congressional
approval ratings are at their lowest in years. Not surprisingly, the recent months have seen a slew of retirements, including seven-term Arkansas Rep. Vic Snyder, nine-term Michigan Rep. Vernon Ehlers, and two-term Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. Any congressmen left will surely have to face the anger of their constituents, and ultimately try to ride out the anti-incumbent wave this year.

The Rise of Challengers

It’s known in politics that challengers often face a number of obstacles in their attempts to be elected. Competing against well-known and well-funded incumbents, they have to spend countless hours and dollars just making sure voters know their name, let alone where they stand on issues. But in this current political environment, all bets are off. Unless the mood of the electorate takes a dramatic swing, challengers throughout the country may have their best shot in years to win seats in Congress.

The Message of Change

In 2008, Democratic congressional candidates, pulled along strongly by President Obama’s campaign strategy, ran on a message of ‘hope and change’. Drawing largely from former President Bush’s failures in Iraq, as well as the state of the economy, Democrats successfully convinced voters that Washington needed a bit of an adjustment.

But the tables have turned. After a year in power, it’s now the Democratic Party that, in the minds of voters, is responsible for the country’s problems. And naturally, we know that when things aren’t going well, the status quo is no longer acceptable. Change is always a popular campaign theme, but one that is now owned by the Republican Party.

It’s All About the Economy

Although touted by the administration and the Democratic majority as a sure fix to prompt economic recovery, the stimulus package has seemingly done little to address unemployment, and instead has decreased sales and promoted economic instability. Actually, a full 83 percent of Americans rate fixing the economy as very important, and rightfully so. With a current unemployment rate of 10.6 percent, workers and small business owners across America continue to struggle to make ends meet. Undoubtedly, the economy will be the number one issue this election year. In a period of high government spending, which is often followed by taxation, small business tends to be the losers. So take notice of what candidates offer as solutions to the economic mess – their proposals on how to help you and your small business are more important now than ever before.

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