Midterms are approaching, and LGBTQ+ voters are asking themselves if the outcome of the elections can alter the course of the country’s politics that are becoming increasingly more hostile towards the minorities.
A year and a half of Trump’s second term has impacted millions of queer Americans nationwide, making our lives less stable and secure. Trans healthcare and HIV prevention projects, anti-discrimination policies, and diversity and inclusion programs—no hard-won right or milestone stayed unaffected under the targeted attacks by the Republican administration. Can things change for the better if Democrats flip the Senate this November, and do they even stand a chance?
According to multiple poll aggregators, yes, there is a real possibility the Senate will turn blue, along with the House of Representatives. Silver Bulletin gives Democrats a 56.8% winning likelihood, and The Cook Political Report, while remaining conservative, placed Texas and Iowa, historically red states, in the toss-up category. A recent publication from an analytics company, Gallup, also shows that more American voters now identify as Democrats than Republicans.
Another important factor that may contribute to Democrats’ victory is Trump’s approval rating that plummeted in the last few months. High tariffs, the ongoing war in Iran, and other short-sighted, disastrous decisions have cost Trump the trust of American people, including many of his own supporters who now start to realize that the president never intended to deliver on all of his campaign promises. In a desperate attempt to improve his position, Trump even pledged to pay five thousand dollars to every adult in the U.S. if Republicans win both the House and the Senate. Another empty promise that, if fulfilled, would throw the country’s economy into chaos.
What would it entail for the LGBTQ+ voters that Democrats gain control over the legislative branch of the U.S. government? Republicans will have a much harder time passing any new laws, and any new appointments for executive positions and Supreme Court justices, selected by Trump, will be likely stalled.
Democrats flipping the Senate would also mean taking power and visibility away from Republicans who have been using their resources to attack the LGBTQ+ community and embolden right-wing extremist movements.
To help redefine the current state of politics, a few months ago, Human Rights Campaign launched an initiative aimed at mobilizing queer voters across the country. They offer a comprehensive guide on voting and a priority list of congressional candidates who take an unwavering stance on equality issues, like Scott Wiener and Marni von Wilpert, two openly queer candidates from California.
According to HRC’s data, an overwhelming majority of surveyed LGBTQ+ people identify with the Democratic Party and intend to cast their ballots in November, fed up with rampant discrimination, government corruption, and growing inequality.
If the Democrats win the midterm elections, change will be slow but sure, the damage caused by the Republican administration will come undone, and the democracy will stay protected. While it isn’t easy to remain hopeful after a year and a half of relentless attacks on our rights, it’s crucial that we keep fighting for our future.
