Voters cast ballots in important election to determine control of Congress

Judy Woodruff:

Americans have been trooping to the polls today, the final day of voting in the midterm elections of 2022. Control of Congress is the big prize. Republicans need a net gain of a single seat to take the U.S. Senate and five seats to capture the House of Representatives.

Three dozen governorships are also on the ballot. And, for many, the nation's future and the importance of voting itself are at stake.

After a sometimes bitter, months-long campaign, today was all about voters.

Janece Jenkins, Georgia Resident:

Everybody's vote matters. And with the struggle that people have had over the years, I think it was very important for me to come out.

Judy Woodruff:

Turnout appeared healthy in many places, as here in Florida.

Julio Martinez, Florida Resident:

For me, voting is certainly a privilege. You know, I come from — my background is Cuban. We were stripped of all our rights, of all our freedoms.

Judy Woodruff:

But, even before today, more than 44 million Americans had voted with mail-in ballots or at early voting centers. That surpassed the more than 39 million early votes in the last midterms in 2018.

This time, polls show Republicans all but assured of taking over the U.S. House of Representatives. Control of the Senate hangs on Pennsylvania and other key races. This morning, the state's Democratic candidate, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, turned out to st his vote, as did his Republican rival, TV doctor Mehmet Oz.

Final surveys had them neck and neck. In the Buckeye State of Ohio, Democratic candidate Tim Ryan turned out to vote in a Senate campaign where he's cast himself as a moderate.

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Senatorial Candidate: I feel like Ohio wants to move in the direction of sanity and healing and reconciliation. And I want to be a part of that.

Judy Woodruff:

Ryan faces headwinds from Republican author J.D. Vance, who today asked Ohioans to vote based on the cost of everyday needs.

J.D. Vance (R), Ohio Senatorial Candidate: I really think the election is fundamentally a referendum on whether people's lives have gotten better in the last couple of years. A dozen eggs was $1.50 a year ago, and now it's over $4. Gas is through the roof.

Judy Woodruff:

Former President Donald Trump showed up last night to give Republicans a final push. But Mr. Trump seemed to have his eyes on another prize, hinting at a date for what could be a launch of his own in 2024.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States: I'm going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, November 15, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

Judy Woodruff:

Also last night, the current president in the Democratic stronghold of Maryland, where he made his final pitch.

Joe Biden, President of the United States: Hello, Maryland!

Today, we face an inflection point. We know in our bones that our democracy is at risk, and we know that this is your moment to defend it.

Judy Woodruff:

In midterms past, the party in power has typically taken a battering. In 2006, Republicans lost 30 House seats and six Senate seats.

George W. Bush, Former President of the United States: It was a thumping.

Judy Woodruff:

While, in 2010, Democrats lost 63 seats in the House and six in the Senate.

Barack Obama, Former President of the United States: I'm not recommending for every president that they take a shellacking like they — like I did last night.

Judy Woodruff:

This time, the key issues range from inflation and crime, to the fate of legal abortion, and even voting itself, including how future elections are held.