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title: Everything You Need to Know About the Midterm Elections
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Brookings is your resource to help make sense of the 2018 midterm elections.

|                         Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.                           November 4, 2018 The U.S. midterm elections are this Tuesday—here's what you need to know.  From research on youth and minority voters to expert analysis on Senate races across the country, the Brookings Institution is your resource to make sense of the 2018 midterm elections—both now and after the votes are cast.  Still need to register to vote or find a polling location? Visit vote.gov for information on your state. Brookings on the Midterms Our right to vote John R. Allen "Every vote cast on November 6 makes a difference to a candidate, a community, and, ultimately, to America. But voting also makes an affirmative statement about who we are as a people." Brookings President John R. Allen reflects on the democratic process of voting—something he has fought for throughout his life—and calls on U.S. citizens to exercise their right to vote this Tuesday. Read more Race for the Senate 2018 From Beto O'Rourke's highly publicized race against Ted Cruz in Texas to a surprisingly close contest in Florida, our "Race for the Senate" series provides on-the-ground analysis from top political scientists in key states across the country. See the top issues in each state Watch: How ballot initiatives will impact voter turnout in the 2018 midterms John Hudak Whether it’s a constitutional amendment on gay marriage or a measure to legalize marijuana, ballot initiatives can be a powerful tool for getting voters to the polls. John Hudak explains how both parties are using this tactic and others to expand—and restrict—voter turnout. Watch the video Upcoming Event Results and implications of the 2018 midterm elections Thursday, November 8, 2018 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST Did a “blue wave” surge or fizzle? What governing challenges will America face under the new Congress? On November 8, Brookings experts will review the results of the midterm elections and provide analysis on the state of U.S. politics moving forward. Register to attend \| Watch the event online Issues How health care and tax cuts could influence the election. In two new episodes of our 2018 midterms podcast series, Matthew Fiedler explains how candidate are talking about health care policy, while Vanessa Williamson assesses whether the Republican Party's tax cuts will have any effect on voters' choices. Listen to more election-focused podcast episodes on our website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Democrats and Republicans express surprising views on trade, foreign policy, and immigration. Confused about where the two parties stand on some issues? Data from the Primaries Project at Brookings suggests there may be good reason for that. Are the 2018 midterm election polls accurate? For many, Donald Trump's surprise victory invalidated public polling. In a new video, William Galston discusses where the polls went wrong two years ago and the continued usefulness of public opinion surveys to gauge interest in issues that shape a candidate’s campaign.   Voters The groups behind a “blue wave.” President Trump will not be on the ballot on Tuesday, but both his supporters and detractors are likely to vote as if he were. William Frey examines possible turnout scenarios for key groups who have historically opposed Trump’s policies, including black and Hispanic Americans and women with college degrees. How will the middle class vote? President Trump made a number of promises on taxes and trade to the American middle class, but it’s not clear that his actions—or lack thereof—will impact this group’s voting behavior. Richard Reeves argues we should look for only modest changes in the voting patterns of the American middle class.  Youth could determine the elections—if they turn out. An estimated 8 million more Americans are eligible to vote this year than in 2016. Andre Perry highlights the issues driving young adults to the polls and several voter suppression efforts that have aimed to shut them out. Candidates and Regions The Heartland is central to the midterms and America's future. While the American Heartland accounts for 30 percent of the nation’s population, it is represented by 38 senators and 19 governors—many of whom are in close races on Tuesday. Robert Maxim and Mark Muro discuss the region’s outsized role in the midterms and in closing the divides of American politics.   Forgotten Americans in the 2018 midterm elections. On the Cafeteria podcast, Isabel Sawhill addresses the country's economic, cultural, and political divisions, and describes what she learned by talking with Americans in three cities. What campaign finance filings can tell us about the coming election. On October 15, House and Senate candidates filed their final reports on fundraising. Michael Malbin explains what they reveal—and don’t—about the potentially historic nature of this election.   Stay Connected Sign up for other Brookings newsletters Brookings RSS Feeds Brookings on Facebook Brookings on Twitter                         Manage your subscriptions \| Unsubscribe from all Brookings Emails   The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20036,  |
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