Midterm Elections in the United States: What’s at Stake?

On 4 November 2014, midterm elections will be held for all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and for 36 seats in the US Senate. Additionally, 36 of 50 states will hold gubernatorial races on that day. According to this analysis, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is widely expected to be maintained, and the Party stands a decent chance of gaining the six additional seats it would need to control the Senate as well – giving the party a hold over the entire Congress, with its legislative and oversight powers. Whatever results the Senate race produces, the midterms will not end the country’s long-standing political gridlock. President Obama is certain to face a difficult two years before the end of his tenure, according to this analysis.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

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