Roxanne Gasana, news editor

Georgia’s midterm elections, finalized on Nov. 3, brought significant change to the state’s political leadership. The Democratic Party won majority of the positions in Georgia’s state government, making history as it contributed to the nationwide Democratic victory. For the first time since President Donald Trump’s 2024 term, the Democratic Party now holds majority of the seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson to become Georgia’s governor, making history as the first Black woman to be elected governor in the United States. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also secured his seat for another term, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Mike Collins. The Democratic Party won multiple statewide races, namely lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and commissioner of agriculture.

Nationwide results reflected a shift in the voter opinion across the country, as Democrats have flipped formerly Republican seats. Their victory stems from widespread concerns about the economy, the cost of living and the unpredictable direction of the current president’s administration.

Eric Sands, department chair and associate professor of political science and international affairs, said economic concerns played a major role in the turnout of the elections.

“The big issues with the current government were gas prices, groceries, costs of living, inflation and all of those things,” Sands said.

He said the Republicans had campaigned on economic concerns in 2024, promising change and benefits while criticizing the Democrats for their inability to address the cost of living. However, after being voted in, Republicans faced the same criticism for the same issues. Sands also said Trump’s declining approval ratings were a factor in the results of the election.

“Trump was clearly a plus for Republicans in 2024 and that helped Republicans run back then,” Sands said. “However, this time around, he was definitely a liability.”

The election results also brought greater diversity to Georgia’s elected leadership. Junior Kaiya Williams said Bottoms’ historic victory, alongside other minority candidates winning statewide positions, stood out to her and brought her a lot of joy.

“I have never really seen anybody else that looks like me in that realm,” Williams said. “I have not seen any other Black people in office, and, before this election, I definitely hadn’t seen any other Black women.”

For Williams, the results gave her a sense of pride, especially with Georgia’s history with the Black community and the Civil Rights Movement. She said representation extends beyond the people elected and seeing people from different backgrounds in positions of authority removes stigma and can encourage future generations, particularly minority students.

“I think proper representation empowers students, specifically college students, as we’re going through school to get our degrees,” Williams said. “That shows us that there are no limits. It removes a stigma that people might think is around politics, that it’s only white men.”

The unexpected results go beyond Georgia’s state government and stretch across the nation. Democratic victories in congressional races will cause change in the balance of power in Washington. With Democrats controlling both Chambers of Congress while Republicans hold the presidency, the country is entering a period of divided government.

Sands said this change could influence several  areas  of  federal policy, including foreign relations, trade and military spending.

“Democrats could use their position in Congress to challenge some of Trump’s decisions, particularly regarding the conflict involving Iran and U.S. relations with Israel and Ukraine,” Sands said. “Congress can cut off funding for Trump’s war in Iran, and without congressional funding, the administration could face pressure to withdraw.”

However, Sands cautioned against expecting immediate change in the country’s policies. Although Democrats hold most of the influence in Congress, Trump is still president and has the power to veto legislations passed by lawmakers. He also said the Senate filibuster could make it difficult for Democrats to pass legislation without Republican support.

“The procedure allows a minority of senators to block most legislation unless supporters can reach the required 60 votes to end debate,” Sands said.

Despite this roadblock, Sands said congressional control could create an opportunity for the Democratic Party to pass more moderate legislations. The party’s elected officials do not all share the same political positions, meaning more moderate voices could have a greater influence on the party’s direction.

“A lot of the Democrats that were elected in this midterm election are not on board with Democratic socialism,” Sands said. “There’s a lot more moderate vote out there, but we’ll have to see what those moderates are willing to do.”

The next two years will be vital to determining the direction of the 2028 presidential election. The economy and international relations will have a heavy influence on which issues are the most important to voters.

“Democrats will have to take responsibility for the decisions made while they control Congress, regardless of whether they have the ability to pass major legislation,” Sands said. “The Democrats need a bit of luck to go their way so that prices come down and the economy is able to rebound.”

This year’s midterms also highlighted the importance of young people’s involvement in politics. Around 27% of eligible young voters voted during this midterm election, making it the second-highest young voter turnout in the country’s history, showing how significant it is for young voters to be informed and participate.

Williams said her understanding of political issues has changed through her involvement in the Black Student Association (BSA), including that being around informed students encouraged her to become more involved.

“Prior to being in BSA, I was always very avoidant of politics,” Williams said. “After joining BSA and being around other students who were informed and engaged, it made me want to conduct my own research and become more involved.”

She encouraged young people to realize the importance of their voices and their votes, regardless of whether they consider themselves to be politically involved.

“It is so important to take the initiative to use our voices and vote,” Williams said. “Our futures depend on it.”