Ariana Genna ’23, staff writer 

What was predicted to be a red wave turned out to be a win for Democrats.  

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, voters headed to the polls for this year’s midterm election. With high inflation rates and gas prices, many assumed this election would skew heavily in favor of the Republican Party, as a reprimand of President Biden. This didn’t turn out to be true, as Democrats made some major gains.  

“Democratic fortunes have improved, thanks to Trump,” Dr. Chris Dolan, professor of political science said. “Trump’s inability to just go away made just enough voters in just enough areas in PA and across the country to render judgment on himself resulting in huge republican losses in a year they should have done well.”  

One of the most contested elections was in Pennsylvania. Dr. Memet Oz (R) and John Fetterman (D) were both vying for a seat in the US Senate and Josh Shapiro (D) and Doug Mastriano (R) for the governorship.  

These races were watched by those across the nation because the Senate race could have changed which party held power in the upper chamber of Congress. Moreover, the result of the governor’s race could have meant limits or even bans on abortion and access to reproductive care.  

Although it was heavily believed the Republicans would have won big in this midterm election, Democrats won many key races, including the PA Senate and Governor seats. So why wasn’t there a red wave in PA?  

“Mastriano was not a viable alternative for Governor as he was an extremist candidate central to Republican efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election who also threatened women’s reproductive rights,” Dolan said. “So, democracy, rule of law and civil rights were on the ballot in PA as much as inflation, and Democrats and independents were highly motivated and turned out in high numbers.” 

This midterm had the second-highest voter turnout among voters under 30 in the past three decades. Young voters showed up to the polls, and they favored democrats, preferring Democratic candidates by a 28-point margin.  

Moreover, those who predicted a “red wave” underestimated the impact abortion rights would have on voter turnout and candidate selection. In the state of PA alone, there were major upticks in voter registration rates. This jump was most pronounced in the days after the Dobbs ruling was announced, with more than 60 percent of newly registered voters being women.  

With the combination of increased rate in youth turnout and higher rates of women and/or pro-choice voter turnout, Democratic candidates had an unexpected advantage, as these voters have higher rates of support for Democrats.  

So, what does this mean?  

“Democrats now have a much deeper bench of candidates if Biden decides not to run in 2024 or for 2028,” Dolan said. “Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was on Biden’s shortlist in 2020, PA Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro, the commonwealth’s first Jewish governor, and MD Governor-Elect Wes Moore, that state’s first Black governor, will now be talked up as future presidential candidates alongside Pete Buttigieg and CA Governor Gavin Newsom.”

The 2022 midterm election is not telling of the future, but it does give some insight as to the direction of the country. One thing has become clear: the best way to motivate Democrats and many independents is through conservative policy and legal judgments.