Richard Shelby Of Alabama

US Senate Races Crucial For Both Democrats And Republicans In 2022

As in every even year, the US Senate faces one third of its membership facing election contests this November.

Six Senators are retiring, five Republican (Richard Shelby of Alabama, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania), and one Democrat (Patrick Leahy of Vermont).

Besides these six open seats, 28 other Senators are running for reelection, with a total of 20 Republican seats up, and 14 Democrats.

This should give the Democrats the advantage in gaining seats, and if even one seat is added, the Democrats will have control, and if two seats are gained, the unreliability of Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia will not have as much impact and influence in holding up Democratic Party goals for legislation.

On the other hand, if the Republicans gain just one seat, Mitch McConnell becomes Majority Leader, and this will hamper the remainder of the Joe Biden Presidency in this term.

The best hopes for the Democrats are to win Ohio with Congressman Tim Ryan, who was a Presidential contender in 2020; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; Wisconsin; and Florida, where Marco Rubio faces challenge from Congresswoman Val Demings.

THe best hopes for the Republicans are to win Arizona, where Mark Kelly faces a tough fight; Georgia, where Reverend Ralphael Warnock has a serious challenge; Nevada, where Catherine Cortez Masto has a close race; and New Hampshire, where Maggie Hassan has a challenging race.

On Eve Of Voting Rights Vote In Senate, Why Cannot At Least Ten GOP Senators Vote Support?

In 2006, the US Senate voted 98-0 for extension of the Voting Rights Act.

In 2022, it seems highly unlikely that even one Republican Senator will do so, therefore undermining American democracy.

The concept that there are not at least 10 Republican Senators who have the courage and the principle that voting rights matter, and are willing to go on record to that effect, is mind blowing.

Why cannot Susan Collins of Maine and Ben Sasse of Nebraska, both of whom voted to convict Donald Trump in the second impeachment trial, and are safely in office through 2026, vote to support voting rights?

Why cannot Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has been elected to the Senate as an Independent in a three way race in 2010, and is often an outlier in the party, including voting to convict Donald Trump, support voting rights, even though she faces election in 2022?

Why cannot Mitt Romney of Utah, who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and is seen as more centrist than anyone in the party in the Senate, other than Collins and Murkowski, have the ability to vote to support voting rights?

Why cannot Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and who has his seat until 2026, as Collins and Sasse also do, have the courage to support voting rights?

Why cannot Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Burr of North Carolina, both who also voted to convict Donald Trump, and are leaving the Senate at the end of 2022, do the right thing and support voting rights?

Why cannot Roy Blunt of Missouri, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Richard Shelby of Alabama, all retiring, do the right thing and support voting rights?

If all of the above did the right thing, we would have 10 Republican Senators joining with the 50 Democrats, and voting rights would be restored!

37 Members Of Congress Leaving In 2022, With 22 No Longer Seeking Public Office

Thirty seven members of Congress, including six US Senators, are leaving office in 2022, with fifteen House members seeking a Senate seat or a a Governorship or other office, rather than retiring completely from politics.

Some are worthy of attention as follows:

Five Republican Senators:

Richard Burr of North Carolina
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
Rob Portman of Ohio
Richard Shelby of Alabama
Roy Blunt of Missouri

and Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont

In the House of Representatives, notable retirements include:

Devin Nunes (R) of California
Peter DeFazio (D) of Oregon
Jackie Speier (D) of California
Adam Kinzinger (R) of Illinois
John Yarmuth (D) of Kentucky
Anthony Gonzalez (R) of Ohio

Amonag those running for the US Senate:

Peter Welch (D) of Vermont
Conor Lamb (D) of Pennsylvania
Val Demings (D) of Florida
Tim Ryan (D) of Ohio
Mo Brooks (R) of Alabama

Running for Governor:

Charlie Crist (D) of Florida
Tom Suozzi (D) of New York
Lee Zeldin (R) of New York

Also, running for Mayor of Los Angeles–Karen Bass (D) of California