ELECTION NIGHT IN AMERICA – What to watch for tonight

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Election Day

Election night in America will include spending the entire evening watching hundreds of results come in from all over the nation.   Here’s how to concentrate on the crucial moments.

Republicans hope to regain control of the Senate and House of Representatives by capitalizing on voters’ fears about crime and the economy. If they succeed, they’ve pledged to scuttle President Joe Biden’s plans for the following two years.

The struggle for control of Washington does not end there. Additionally, governors are chosen by each state, along with election officials and referendums on issues like legalizing marijuana, ending modern slavery, and banning abortion.

The first significant event of the evening might occur as soon as after Georgia’s polls close at 19:00 EST.

Herschel Walker, a legendary NFL player who can barely speak coherently, is challenging Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock for the seat. If Walker triumphs, Democrats will face a challenging evening.

Stacey Abrams, associated with a streak of Democratic victories in the state in 2020, is challenging Republican governor Brian Kemp. For over two years, former president Donald Trump has decried Mr. Kemp, and if he triumphs, it may be an indication that some Republicans are prepared to move past the Trump period.

Democrats had modest expectations for Ohio and North Carolina, where polls close at 19:30 EST, but their Senate candidates have been surprisingly competitive.

JD Vance and Ted Budd continue to lead in the polls, although by very small margins. Trump has sponsored both candidates, so if Democratic rivals Tim Ryan or Cheri Beasley win, it won’t just be a severe setback for Republican aspirations of regaining the Senate; it also may put the brakes on the possibility of a second Trump presidential bid in 2024.

When Florida’s polls close at 2:00 a.m. EST on November 8, winners in two significant races are anticipated to be declared immediately (01:00 GMT). Possibly Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Ron DeSantis are expected to win with ease and could both run for president in 2024.

But Pennsylvania, where Democrats John Fetterman and Republicans Mehmet Oz are engaged in a bitterly personal race for the Senate, will be the center of attention. Mr. Fetterman is recovering from a potentially fatal stroke, and the commanding advantage he previously had over his famous rival has vanished.

Republicans will be keeping an eye on New Hampshire when voting ends in 15 other states. It’s a state that Mr. Trump has lost twice and that is presently only represented by Democrats in Congress, but as costs rise, three candidates for the House and Senate who have received support from Mr. Trump are surging to the top.

In the meantime, voters in Maryland and Missouri will decide whether to legalize marijuana; subsequently, voters in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota will do the same. Cannabis will be legal for recreational use in almost half of the country if these five states pass the legislation.

In Arizona, the epicenter of the 2020 election intrigues, the polls shut at 21:00 EST 
In these races, up to 10 Republican candidates support Donald Trump’s disproved assertion that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election. The most notable of them is Kari Lake, who, if elected governor, would introduce significant revisions to the state’s voting regulations before the 2024 election.

Results for the Democrat-dominated state of New York will also be announced; there, Republican Lee Zeldin is gaining support by criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul’s record on crime. Additionally, in the very conservative state of Texas, Democrat Beto O’Rourke is mobilizing voters upset with Republican policies and the party’s standstill on gun control to support his underdog bid to unseat Governor Greg Abbott. A victory by Mr. Zeldin or Mr. O’Rourke would be a huge surprise.

Pay attention to how Michigan voters, as well as those in California, Kentucky, Montana, and Vermont, vote on initiatives to defend access to abortion. Voters, especially women, are passionate about protecting abortion rights and might not follow traditional partisan lines.

The cost of living crisis is harming Democrats in Nevada, where the polls close at 2:00 EST (03:00 GMT). Republican nominee Adam Laxalt is in a good position to defeat Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. If Mr. Laxalt wins, it might be the last straw for Democratic control of the Senate.

The results of every race won’t be known for several days, and even those announced that evening were simply estimates.

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