The Democratic Party is receiving a major boost thanks to a string of victorious special elections amid low approval ratings for President Joe Biden.
Democrats have achieved significant wins in races across the country over the past year, including with an abortion-related measure in Ohio and a New Hampshire state House race.
These off-year elections have renewed optimism within the party as members are uneasy over a Biden-Trump rematch in the 2024 presidential election.
“I think it’s a reflection of the fact that Democrats have been delivering for the American people and quite frankly, there’s not a constituency in this country who has not benefited from the Democratic way of life when it comes to our priorities, our legislative agenda, up and down the ballot,” said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright.
“These elections are a true reflection of that and at the end of the day, voters, in particular Black voters, demonstrate their trust when they cast their vote at the ballot box,” Seawright continued.
With a 12 percent victory in New Hampshire, Democrat Hal Rafter flipped the GOP seat in the southern portion of the state. In Pennsylvania, Lindsay Powell defeated local Republican Party chairperson Erin Autenreith to win the one-seat Democratic majority in the State House.
Aftyn Behn, a community activist from East Nashville, Tennessee, also won a state House seat to replace the late Democratic Rep. Bill Beck, who had served there for many years but had passed away earlier this year.
“I will say it adds weight to the fact that we are making the right arguments that are resonating with very broad swathes of the American people,” said Democratic strategist Jon Reinish. “I think it certainly bodes well for the battle for the House, I think for certain Senate races, governor’s races, state, legislative, etc.
“I think this also reflects the Biden team’s thinking also is that this is a very good mobilizing message that creates a lot of urgency with a lot of different people as you head into a presidential race,” Reinish continued.
This comes as a new poll suggests that Biden is in danger of losing the 2024 presidential election following dissatisfaction from the public.
According to the survey conducted by RealClearPolitics, only 41 percent of registered voters express confidence in the president’s performance. Biden trails former President Donald Trump by just one point among the respondents.
