As Americans, exercising our right to vote is literally the least we can do to make sure that the people who represent us are at least somewhat supported by a majority of citizens. Whether you’re voting on “who wore it best,” picking the winning bracket in the Betchelor Challenge, or choosing actual political representatives, this is the one time you are fully allowed to blatantly choose favorites based on personal (preferably educated) opinion. America: Land of the Free, Home of the Petty.
If the 2016 presidential election had you pounding tequila shots until you forgot how to spell “democracy,” then you’re probably itching for another chance to flex those Scantron-bubble-filling muscles. Well, you’re in luck, my woke friends – no need to wait until 2020 for the next presidential election when there are tons of primaries, special elections, and midterms to vote in this year. Here are just a few of the ones that might stand a real chance at stopping the big orange wrecking ball from destroying everything causing some major shifts in the Senate and the House.
May 8 – Indiana, Ohio, & West Virginia Primaries
The Democratic Senator in each of these three states is running for re-election on a pretty unstable footing. In Indiana, Republicans have raised over $1 million to challenge current Dem. Senator Joe Donnelly. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s Dem. Senator faces a Republican opponent who spent a year in federal prison for a workplace safety violation that killed 29 people in a mining accident. You know, totally equal opponents.
June 5 – California & New Jersey Primaries
5 out of 12 races in New Jersey have the potential to shake things up, while two Republicans in California have already announced they are not seeking re-election, which opens the door for a possible blue flip for those districts. TBH, I feel them – if I was already part of the House or Senate when the past year and a half of insanity tornadoed through, you couldn’t have paid me to peace outta that mess fast enough.
August 2 – Tennessee Primary
With Bob Corker also calling it quits, the Tennessee Primary is totally up in the air and Democrats are hoping to pull an upset and snatch that wig from the winner of the Republican primary.
August 14 – Minnesota Primaries
Tina Smith is looking to serve out the rest of the term that she took over for Al Franken after he joined the ranks of creepy men in power who like to grope women as a joke. Cute. Republicans are looking for the steal but like, ya girl had to come in at a tough time and pick up a lot of pieces when Franken let everyone down so why don’t we just let her have this one, yeah?
Other Elections To Watch This Summer:
June 26 – New York, Maryland, & Utah Primaries
August 7 – Michigan & Missouri Primaries, Ohio Special House General Election
August 28 – Arizona & Florida Primaries
Save these dates to your iCal because each of these races could be the key to flipping the House or the Senate. Also, watching election results is fun. Especially if you turn it into a drinking game.
November 6 – The G-D Midterm Elections
This is it. The big one. The primaries are just pregames getting you nice and sauced up for the main event. While the White House will remain under Republican control for the next 2 years, midterms could flip enough seats in the House and/or the Senate to edge Democrats closer to closing the gap or even taking the majority.
This is a massively BFD, considering the point of the other branches is to check and balance the president and each other. They’re basically there to ensure that one party doesn’t run wild passing legislation that only serves to benefit their point of view. I’d like to take a moment to thank Schoolhouse Rock! for my unofficial degree in political science and the ability to sound like I have even the slightest fucking clue what I’m talking about.
For a complete list of elections in 2018, check out this handy guide by The New York Times, and make sure to register to vote in your state. For real, if you can tweet a vote for The Voice because you think Adam Levine is a wet dream on two legs, then you definitely have enough time to do your civic duty and get your ass to your local polling place because this shit matters. Be the change you wish to see in the world, or whatever. I’m pretty sure a bumper sticker taught me that.
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