The fallout from the 2022 US midterm election was examined by University of San Francisco professor Stephen Zunes during an appearance on KTVU’s Mornings on 2.
The political scientist discussed why Democrats performed more strongly than expected, despite forecasts of a sweeping Republican victory. The party retained control of the Senate, while Republicans secured only a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
Among the factors linked to the result were stronger-than-anticipated turnout among younger voters and the prominence of abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
Research by Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement estimated that 27% of Americans aged 18 to 29 voted in the election, making it the second-highest youth turnout recorded in a US midterm in almost three decades.
Abortion was the issue most likely to influence young voters, according to the centre’s analysis, while voters in several states also backed measures protecting access to abortion.
Zunes’ discussion focused on what the result revealed about the political mood in the United States, including the limits of Republican expectations and the importance of issues that helped mobilise Democratic voters.
