The other races: it’s not just the presidency catching our attention

While all eyes are on the presidency, there are some other races that could also change the trajectory of the United States over the next few years. 

Several Senate races remain close, with the potential for “runoff” elections dragging out results for weeks or months to come. And in the House of Representatives, a few interesting candidates have emerged.

Then there are the roughly 123 ballot propositions being voted on, covering everything from abortion to psychedelic mushrooms.

House of Representatives

Georgia: Marjorie Taylor Greene (R)

It looks like QAnon has got its first supporter into Congress. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene’s election in Georgia could help legitimise the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory which has flourished under Donald Trump. 

Greene’s win was all but guaranteed after her opponent, Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal, dropped out of the race for personal reasons after he was forced to vacate his house as part of a divorce. 

If you want to get a taste of Greene’s politics, here’s a completely normal picture she posted of herself holding a gun next to representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of “the squad”.

Missouri: Cori Bush (D)

In more uplifting news, Democrat Cori Bush, a nurse and activist who led protests against police brutality in Ferguson in 2014, has been elected elected to the House of Representatives.

Bush will become the first black woman to represent the state of Missouri in Congress and is one of a record number of women and women of colour running as candidates. 

Senate

Georgia: David Perdue (R) v Jon Ossoff (D) 

Incumbent Republican David Perdue, a wealthy former corporate executive with Jack Donaghy vibes, looks like he will fight off a challenge from 33-year-old Democrat Jon Ossoff in a closely watched Senate race. 

Ossoff has accused Perdue of profiting from the pandemic after it emerged he bought stocks in a company that sells personal protective equipment on the same day he received a classified briefing on the threat posed by the coronavirus.

Perdue is currently ahead of Ossoff, but because there is a third candidate in the race, he will need to get more than 50% of the vote to avoid a “runoff” election on January 3.

Arizona: Martha McSally (R) v Mark Kelly (D)

Democrat Mark Kelly is looking like he will unseat incumbent Republican Martha McSally, paving the way for an extra Senate seat for the Democrats in Arizona. 

McSally is a fighter pilot turned Trump bestie who was appointed to the late John McCain’s seat in 2018. Kelly is a retired NASA astronaut and former gun-control advocate who is married to former Republican representative and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords. 

Maine: Susan Collins (R) v Sara Gideon (D)

Democrats view Maine as essential if they want control of the Senate. Incumbent GOP Senator Susan Collins, the only Republican in Congress from New England, could be in danger of losing her seat to Democrat Sara Gideon. 

Collins is ahead but it could be another week until the result is finalised due to Maine’s unusual “ranked choice” voting system.

Collins, a moderate, has spent two decades in politics and has barely mentioned Trump during her campaign. She supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanagh’s confirmation but voted against the recent confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. She has said she doesn’t want to see one-party control of Washington because it would lead to a “far-left agenda”. 

Delaware: Sarah McBride (D)

Democrat Sarah McBride has won her Delaware state Senate race, making her the first openly transgender state senator in the US. 

Ballot propositions

As if Americans didn’t have enough to worry about, they’re also being asked to decide on a range of other very-2020 issues, including removing rights for Uber drivers and banning late-term abortions.

One proposition — legalising magic mushrooms — has been successful. So if voters in Oregon are left depressed by this election, they will soon be able to self-medicate away the fear and dread of another four years of Trump.