As the presidential race continues to make the headlines, it is easy to overlook the importance of downballot races. There is much more at stake this election year than who will occupy the White House. While media attention often fixates on the top-of-the-ticket race, downballot elections — from Congress and state representatives to judicial seats and ballot measures — play a critical role in shaping our communities. These races may not be as glamorous, but their outcomes are often just as important as who is president.
Consider the last two years since the Republican party regained control of the House of Representatives. This period has been plagued with never-ending threats of government shutdowns, legislative gridlock and the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. This chaotic moment, where four people were nominated to replace him before one could finally secure a majority, underscored why control of the U.S. House and the 435 races that will determine control often flies under the radar. After all, only about 37% of us even know the name of our representative.
At present, control of the U.S. House is on a knife’s edge. Republicans currently hold 220 seats to Democrats’ 212, and there are three vacancies. Recent polling aggregation by 538 forecast that Republicans will likely win around 218 seats to the Democrats’ 217, leaving them with a razor-thin majority. While forecasts are rarely accurate, this close division reveals two truths about U.S. politics: We are deeply divided, and every vote, every seat and every election counts.
The House is not the only part of the federal government teetering on the edge. The U.S. Senate is currently split 51-49 with a slim Democratic majority, including independents who caucus with them. However, recent Montana and West Virginia polls suggest at least two likely Republican gains. At the same time, an independent candidate in Nebraska is nearly tied with the Republican incumbent. This means it is very likely that after the November election, the Senate could have either a one-seat Republican majority or be tied, depending on how the independent candidate in Nebraska would caucus should he win in November.
Many of us will at least have some idea of who to vote for in these races. If nothing else, we can use cues such as party identification and incumbency status to determine whether we are likely to agree or disagree with a candidate. Alternatively, if you are like my Congressman from Illinois’s 16th district, Darin LaHood, it doesn’t matter because nobody is running against him.
The U.S. House and Senate races still garner some national attention. While the average citizen might not be able to name their House representative, they at least know the importance of voting in these elections. However, many local or state races that take place at the same time as the others are often drowned out completely by all the noise.
Even if you do not live in a swing district likely to determine the balance of the House, Senate or Presidency, many states are holding referendums this year, including high-stakes referendums in Florida for marijuana legalization and abortion rights.
This year, my home state of Illinois has three ballot questions I just recently learned of, including important issues like IVF and taxation. I had little knowledge about these questions before taking the time to research them and understand what they were about. While these questions and referendums are often included to drive turnout, they are still crucial for making your voice heard — but to make your voice heard, you must first know what to expect on election day. It is vital to study what you will be asked on your ballot.
In addition, there are many city and judicial elections this year across the country that will impact how local government is run for years to come. Many of us have yet to learn who is running, or worse, have only one choice to vote for. In elections like these, when many of us do not live in competitive districts, it can seem like our votes simply do not matter.
It is disappointing in our system that so few people are willing to get involved in politics and put themselves in the arena. Each race and vote is an opportunity to make your voice heard and support change. Make your voice heard by researching candidates and issues ahead of time so you are prepared to vote up and down the ballot this November.
