This year’s, 2022, mid-term elections made history.  

In a random survey of 100 students 15% said that they voted in the 2022 mid-term elections. This could be because not many of the students at Morton East have turned 18, making them ineligible to vote. 

Midterm elections in the United States are general elections that are held near the midpoint of a presidents four-year term of office. Election day happens on a Tuesday after the first Monday of November. This years, 2022 midterm elections, 435 House seats and 35 out of 100 Senate seats were put up for grabs. Many republicans expected a “red wave” which would mean more republicans being voted into government seats, but the results show us otherwise. There was an unexpected turnout of how many young people went to vote during midterms especially when the people running usually make their target audience older people because they were the ones casting votes. Although republicans hold the majority in both the senate and the house of representatives, they are not winning by much with 49 republicans and 48 democrats in the senate and 218 republicans and 212 democrats in the house. Many people elected made history this election a few examples being: Democrat Maxwell Frost becoming the first gen Z member elected to Congress, Democrat, Delia Ramirez, first Latina elected to Illinois Congress, Democrat, Robert Garcia, is the first LGBTQ immigrant elected to California Congress, Democrat, Summer Lee being the first black women elected to Pennsylvania Congress, and even more minorities made history. 

“I think it’s great. I think it shows you know a lot of these first Latinos/black/gay/trans people or whomever is you know getting that opportunity and gaining power in politics it is very important, it just goes to show that there’s a lot of diversity in our country and there should be you know be a representation of that diversity in our government,” civics and economics teacher Ms. Joycelyn Davila said. 

Another teacher, Mrs. Marlo Rhode, agrees with Ms. Joycelyn Davila. 

“Um I think it’s great.  I think there needs to be more people elected that represent their constituent so I do feel that you know if half the population is women I think there should be at least half the people that are in the general assembly be woman or half the people in congress should be woman, same thing if um certain percentage of Americans or people of Illinois are Latino then I think it should be the same, so I’m all for the representation that reflects the diversity that we have,” history teacher Mrs. Marlo Rhode said. 

Many students, who are Gen Z themselves, believe we are on the right path in creating a brighter future. 

“Gen Z is our future. I believe our younger generations have the power to change the world, since older people are more influenced by the past. In a way, Gen Z knows what they are fighting for. Everyone needs to vote for the ability to get what they think is best for our country,” Senior Mariana Flores said.