Eleven interesting races to watch in 2022

On Jan 1, 2022

Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a contentious 2022 midterm cycle from coast to coast, with both chambers of Congress and 36 governors’ mansions up for grabs.

But beyond which party controls what in Washington and states across the nation, the cycle will also offer tea leaves as to how each party is evolving, which states are emerging as battlegrounds, and which swing states are seeing their purple tint morph into darker shades of red or blue.

With that in mind, here are 11 of the most interesting races taking place in 2022.

GUBERNATORIAL RACES

Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantis Ocasio-Cortez criticizes GOP for ‘projecting their sexual frustrations’ at her A truly ‘patriotic education’ requires critical analysis of US history The 10 Republicans most likely to run for president MORE (R) is running for a second term in an erstwhile battleground that has shifted toward the GOP in recent cycles.

DeSantis, a former congressman, first won his seat in 2018 after an endorsement from former President TrumpDonald Trump Roberts calls for judicial independence in year-end report The year in weird: 9 bizarre political stories that rocked 2021 Michigan shifts, will follow CDC isolation guidance MORE helped push him over the finish line in the Republican primary. He’s since drawn conservative adoration and liberal scorn over his fierce resistance to mask and vaccine mandates and business shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.

DeSantis will likely face off in November against Rep. Charlie CristCharles (Charlie) Joseph Crist 2021’s top political celebrity moments Democrats confront rising retirements as difficult year ends Members of Congress not running for reelection in 2022 MORE (D), Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) or state Sen. Annette Taddeo (D). However, he starts off with an early advantage given his incumbency, name recognition and exploding campaign bank account.

Should he win reelection, it would mark another data point suggesting that Florida is shrugging off its longtime label of a swing state and moving even deeper into Republicans’ column. A defeat, however, would offer Democrats hope that they can remain competitive in Florida.

Beyond 2022, DeSantis is believed to be mulling a presidential run in 2024. A strong showing in November in a state that is crucial to Republicans’ electoral path to the White House would likely pour jet fuel on speculation about DeSantis’s future political ambitions.

Georgia

Georgia’s gubernatorial race is anticipated to be the most closely watched of the entire cycle.

Gov. Brian KempBrian Kemp 10 Democrats who could run in 2024 if Biden doesn’t Biden administration revokes Georgia Medicaid work requirements Former Sen. Johnny Isakson dies at 76 MORE (R) first won his seat in 2018 in a contentious race against former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) and is now running for a second term. But despite his incumbent status, he’ll first have to survive a likely brutal primary against former Sen. David PerdueDavid Perdue Pro-Kemp group hits Perdue over moving jobs overseas On The Trail: Trump-inspired challengers target GOP governors Perdue joins lawsuit over 2020 election in Georgia MORE (R), who lost his seat in a runoff election in January and is challenging Kemp with Trump’s backing.

Kemp found himself in the former president’s crosshairs after he refused to overturn his loss in Georgia last year, which marked the first time the GOP presidential nominee had lost the Peach State since 1992.

Trump, fueled by unfounded claims of election fraud and irregularities, spent much of 2021 railing against Kemp and promising to back a primary challenge to him. He made good on that promise in December when he endorsed Perdue, who has made Kemp’s handling of the 2020 election a centerpiece of his own gubernatorial bid.

“Look, I like Brian. This isn’t personal,” Perdue said in his launch video. “It’s simple: He has failed all of us and cannot win in November.

Kemp has looked to bolster support on his right flank by staunchly supporting Georgia’s new stringent voter restrictions.

But the absence of significant ideological differences between Kemp and Perdue makes the primary a potential indicator of how far the GOP grassroots is willing to boot a sitting governor due mostly to grumbling over the 2020 presidential race.

The general election is also going to be a must-watch race, with Abrams expected to coast to the Democratic nomination.

Since losing to Kemp in 2018, Abrams has used her perch as a top voting rights advocate to set up a sprawling network across Georgia, and her candidacy is expected to be a major motivating factor to push Democrats to the polls in November.

Her strength in November will serve as a key indicator for Democrats of where the party stands in Georgia after winning its Electoral College votes last year and flipping its two Senate seats in runoffs in January.

Michigan

Republicans are making unseating first-term Gov. Gretchen WhitmerGretchen Whitmer Michigan paid up to .5B in fraudulent unemployment claims, report shows The COVID-19 endgame may be here Michigan Republican John James ‘strongly considering’ House run MORE (D) a top priority in the midterms.

Whitmer has drawn fierce Republican rebukes over business closures and other measures intended to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. That furor grew louder after she apologized in April for traveling to visit her ailing father and later apparently violating state-issued social distancing guidelines at a bar.

Whitmer is facing a cavalcade of possible Republican challengers, including former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and conservative media personality Tudor Dixon, and her ability — or inability — to fend off her ultimate challenger will indicate how Democrats are able to rebut coronavirus-related criticism and compete in Rust Belt swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Texas

Two-term Gov. Greg AbbottGreg Abbott Federal judge blocks mask and vaccine mandates for Texas Head Start program 2021’s top political celebrity moments Overnight Energy & Environment — Analysts predict rising gas prices MORE (R) has established a reputation as a staunch conservative, backing stringent abortion rollbacks, voting rights restrictions, a border wall and more. But he’s still facing a challenge from his right flank — while former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) looms in a general election.

Former state Sen. Don Huffines and former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West are among the candidates challenging Abbott for the Republican nomination.

While Trump has endorsed the governor for reelection, Abbott’s detractors have insisted he could implement more hard-line stances on immigration and the coronavirus, including shutting down the border.

Still, Abbott will be no slouch in a primary, boasting sky-high name recognition and a $55 million campaign bank account that is expected to swell even more before the March 1 primary.

Meanwhile, O’Rourke, who first shot to prominence challenging Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz 2021’s top political celebrity moments The 10 Republicans most likely to run for president GOP steps up flirtation with Manchin MORE (R) in 2018, is looking to build up early momentum for his campaign and is expected to handily win the Democratic nomination.

Democrats in Texas say O’Rourke is their strongest candidate, though Republicans are optimistic they can make him a three-time loser.

Democrats have for years said that Texas is on the verge of flipping, pointing to rising racial diversity and a flood of voters from more liberal states moving there. Still, they have yet to be successful in a statewide contest.

With Democrats boasting that no candidate could do better than O’Rourke, a loss could pare back expectations for the party’s chances in the Lone Star State moving forward.

SENATE RACES

Georgia

Sen. Raphael WarnockRaphael Warnock The 10 races that will decide the Senate majority Democrats set for showdown over filibuster, voting rights History shows only a new Voting Rights Act can preserve our fragile democracy MORE (D) was elected in an upset in January’s runoff against then-Sen. Kelly LoefflerKelly Loeffler Democrats’ selective hearing on law and order issues puts everyone at risk Pelosi faces pushback over stock trade defense The pioneer of election disinformation MORE (R) to finish former Sen. Johnny IsaksonJohnny Isakson The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by National Industries for the Blind – Manchin says no; White House fires back Former Sen. Johnny Isakson dies at 76 Herschel Walker calls off fundraiser with woman who had swastika in Twitter profile MORE’s (R) term, but he will face a full-court press from the GOP to deny him a chance at a full term of his own.

Warnock, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Martin Luther King Jr.’s former congregation, is a top target for Senate Republicans, who are still smarting from losing both of…