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What are midterm elections, how often are they held and when do they start?

At the midpoint of a presidency the midterm elections decide how the rest of Congress will look as a check on power on the federal government.

Update:
Carmen Dolores Fernandez votes for her first time during early voting for the upcoming midterm elections in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
PAUL RATJEREUTERS

The 2022 midterm elections are fast approaching. On 8 November Americans will vote to select their representatives in the House and Senate in what will inevitably be a judgement on the presidency of Joe Biden. Despite an early success with the third covid-19 stimulus package, much of his legislative plan has been blocked, watered-down, or outright abandoned. His leadership has also coincided with the largest restriction in abortion rights since the 1970s.

The battleground is set; Democrats are to argue a vote for them is a vote for the protection of the rights of women while Republicans say a vote for them can stop the inflation affecting the US economy, though inflation is already falling.

Midterm elections are important as the number of elected representatives is crucial for passing legislation. At present, The Senate is split 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, almost guaranteeing the necessity of some cross-bench cooperation in many matters. Even a one seat advantage for the Republicans would mean the end of any Democrat-led legislation and leave the Biden presidency a lame duck.

This is was happened at the last midterm elections in 2018. Despite usually poorer turnouts compared to presidential elections, the last midterm vote was the highest since 1914 with a 49.4 percent turnout. The result was a swing of 40 seats to the Democrats who successfully wrestled control of the House away from Republicans. Though not every Senate seat was up for a vote, the Republicans gained two net seats to retain control but there legislative plan was hampered by the loss of the House.

How often are midterm elections?

Midterms are held every four years. Up for grabs are every House seat, as members serve two year terms, while only a selection of Senate seats are voted on. At the 2018 election 35 Senate seats were to be voted on though for 2022 this number is 34.

These senators make up Class 3, a class elected in 2016 for a six year term. Each election cycle a different class is voted upon in a staggered fashion. Some of these senators include the likes of Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chuck Schumer and Ron Johnson, while one of the hotly contested seats is in Pennsylvania between Republican Mehmet Oz and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.