That’s it from me today!
Thank you for reading on several midterm election races happening across the country. Here’s a summary of everything that happened:
For Democrats, Tuesday’s midterm election races could mean losing control of Congress. Several closely watched Senate races could determine the outcome of which party will control Congress for the rest of Joe Biden’s first term in office.
John Kerry, the US climate envoy, has vowed that Joe Biden’s administration will press ahead on climate action regardless of the outcome of today’s midterm elections, which are expected to go badly for Democrats. Kerry delivered that promise while speaking at the Cop27 climate talks in Egypt.
The Guardian caught up with a number of voters across several key states, including Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Many spoke about a number of issues that were motivating them to cast a ballot today, including the state of democracy and abortion access in the US.
The first set of exit polling from CNN spells dismal results for Democrats, as a majority of the US electorate is angry and dissatisfied with the state of the country.
GOP lawsuits challenging voter rules have caused hold ups in some districts, including Philadelphia, as election judges are now required to go through an extra checking process to monitor for double voting, a process that could take three days. Another lawsuit caused mail-in ballots in Philadelphia that have inaccurate or missing dates to be rejected, causing thousands to show up and recast their ballots.
The Florida state department sent a letter to the US Department of Justice saying that federal election monitors won’t be permitted inside the state’s polling places. The letter comes as several key races are happening in Florida, including the election for Florida governor.
Donald Trump cast a ballot at a polling place in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump gave some brief comments to media waiting outside the polling place, and confirmed that he voted for incumbent governor Ron DeSantis.
You can follow this blog, which will update as polling places across the country begin to close.
If you’re in line to vote, stay there!
Have a great night and happy election day, everyone!
Climate action will press ahead even if Dems lost Congress, says US climate envoy
John Kerry, the US climate envoy, has vowed that Joe Biden’s administration will press ahead on climate action regardless of the outcome of today’s midterm elections, which are expected to go badly for Democrats.
Kerry, speaking at the Cop27 climate talks in Egypt, said that he hoped there would be a Congress would act on the climate crisis but “even if we don’t, folks, president Biden is more determined than ever to continue what we are doing.”
“Most of what we are doing cannot be changed by anyone else coming along,” Kerry added, noting that cities and states across America banded together to commit to the Paris climate agreement when Donald Trump removed the US from the pact when president.
US officials in Egypt hope that the inflation reduction act bill passed in August, which contains more than $370bn in climate spending and called “one of the single most important pieces of legislation over the past 50 years or so” by Kerry in his speech, will drive deep cuts in emissions regardless of the midterms.
But Kerry conceded it was possible that Republicans could “launch an assault” on Biden’s climate agenda if they win at least one house of Congress in the elections. The GOP has decried what it calls Biden’s “radical green agenda” and could stall or hamper the rollout of measures aimed at boosting renewable energy deployment. Biden arrives at Cop27 on Friday, potentially in a downcast mood following the outcome of the elections.
