Lifestyles

All tied up

The midterm elections pull to a close with a divided government

Saafya Alnaqib '23, Copy Editor|December 20, 2022

The midterm elections wrapped on Dec. 6, with the run-off in Georgia maintaining control of the Senate for the Democrats. The final count in the Senate is 48 Democrat seats and 49 Republican seats, plus independents Angus King and Bernie Sanders, who caucus with Democrats, and Kyrsten Sinema, who recently declared as an independent. Vice President Harris’ vote tips the scale firmly in favor of the Democrats. The final count in the House of Representatives is 213 Democrat seats and 221 Republican seats, switching control of the House from Democrat to Republican. Here’s where Illinois stands after the midterms, and where other major races ended up.

Senate

Winner: Tammy Duckworth

Incumbent: Yes

Party: Democrat

Issues:

Keeping Illinois agricultural industry strong
Supporting gun control legislation, as well as prison and police reform
Improving access to public education, as well as quality secondary and post-secondary education
Cutting carbon emissions and creating green jobs
Increasing access to affordable healthcare
Authorizing increased military force in the war on terror

House of Representatives

DISTRICT 1

Winner: Jonathan Jackson

Party: Democrat

Issues:

Increasing business opportunities for communities of color
Increasing access to affordable housing
Improving public transportation and other infrastructure
Improving public education; increasing gun control legislation

DISTRICT 4

Winner: Jesús “Chuy” García

Party: Democrat

Issues:

Increasing support for agricultural areas
Securing civil rights for all
Reforming the criminal justice system
Reducing student debt
Creating a green economy
Reforming the immigration system

DISTRICT 5

Winner: Mike Quigley

Party: Democrat

Issues:

Creating a sustainable budget
Protecting reproductive rights
Supporting Chicagoans through economic struggles
Protecting civil rights
Increasing gun control legislation

DISTRICT 7

Winner: Danny K. Davis

Party: Democrat

Issues:

Protecting civil rights
Increasing consumer and labor protections
Reforming the criminal justice system
Reforming health care

Gubernatorial

Winner: J.B. Pritzker

Party: Democrat

Incumbent: Yes

Issues:

Setting up a clean energy future
Expanding access to healthcare statewide
Reducing violence and increasing funding for mental health resources and suicide prevention programs
Strengthening downstate economies
Increasing access to mail-in voting
Ensuring schools are safe for trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming students
Reforming criminal justice
Protecting abortion rights and access
Expanding early childcare financial aid