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Moderate Democrats fear party infighting could hand U.S. Congress to Republicans -Breaking

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Cindy Axne, Democratic Congress candidate, poses with Renee Hardman, West Des Moines City Councilwoman, as she attends her Midterm Election Night Party in Des Moines (Iowa), U.S.A, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File P

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By Tim Reid

LANSING. Mich. (Reuters). – Democrats must retain control in the U.S. Congress’ midterm elections. Moderates living in competitive districts like that of Representative Elissa Lotkin, Michigan, are required to hold onto their seats.

Slotkin and two of his fellow Democratic lawmakers, who were part of the Democratic “blue Wave” 2018 that saw the party retake Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives, fear losing this year due to continued fights with their own party regarding President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Three congresswomen – Slotkin and Abigail Spanberger from Virginia and Cindy Axne from Iowa – said to Reuters recently that Democrats did great work during Biden’s first year as president, but many voters still see a party fighting against itself.

Turn on the TV and voters see Democrats complaining about their fellow Democrats. They also see Democratic legislators “whining, blaming another Democrat,” Spanberger stated. “There’s something negative that I don’t believe is true. This is unfortunate, as we have a strong record.”

Slotkin, who, along with Spanberger and Axne, will face a hard Nov.8 re-election race, stated: “I just speak to a lot people who feel that Washington is so broken.” Effective government is the best way to show people our democracy works.

Slotkin’s Michigan state district was carried by Biden, who won it by 2 percentage percentage points. However, former President Donald Trump took Axne’s Iowa state congressional district in Iowa by less that half of a percentage point. Biden was able to win Spanberger’s Virginia district with 6 more points. However, the state elected a Republican governor for 2021.

Democrats who hold the White House, Senate, and House have faced stiff political obstacles from rising inflation as well as voter exhaustion due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Historical patterns, independent analysts, and historical trends favor Republicans’ gains of control in at least one congressional chamber in November. That would effectively end Biden’s domestic agenda. The Senate splits 50-50 with Democrats holding a slim 222-212 House minority.

Slotkin’s new district is located in central Michigan. It sits within the battleground Michigan. This Midwestern mixture of industry, General Motors Co (NYSE :), operates plants in Lansing – as well as farmland.

DISAPPOINTED in BIDEN

Interviewed 20 Lansing residents, the results showed that voters were equally split between Republicans and Democrats. Two of them who voted for Biden in 2020 said they are now unsure.

Ahmed Khan (48), a small business owner, is one of them.

“I was full of hopes and dreams, but Biden has disappointed me. The economy isn’t turning the corner for me. It is too difficult for people to make purchases. Many shops are closing. Khan explained that it is the economy, the inflation rate, and virus situation that matter most. If I feel a Republican could do a better job than me, I’ll vote for them in November. I will vote for someone who is going to take care of me.”

Anthony Whalen (31) is a 31-year-old software developer who said he was tired of Washington’s infighting.

He said, “My voting preferences are Democratic. But it’s not something I feel proud of.”

A new Reuters/Ipsos survey echoes these concerns. A quarter of Democrats believe the party failed to achieve its goals last year due to their inability or refusal force legislation through.

Democratic dissatisfaction also shows up in Biden’s polling https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-BIDEN/POLL/nmopagnqapa, with just 43% of U.S. adults approving of his performance in a Feb. 7-8 poll.

The Democratic legislators are especially dismayed at the party leaders’ missteps over Biden’s $1.75 Trillion “Build back Better” legislation. It failed to pass after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin withdrew his support.

Biden failed to approve federal voting rights legislation in the US last month. This was again due to Manchin’s refusal to amend Senate rules to defeat Republican opposition.

Slotkin acknowledged that rising prices and ongoing effects of the coronavirus epidemic, which is now in its third-year, are making millions of Americans feel unsecure.

She praised Biden’s $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan, passed by Congress in 2021. It was lauded, like Spanberger or Axne. This plan bailed out families from COVID-19 and lifted millions out of poverty.

Biden’s $1 Trillion infrastructure bill was also mentioned by lawmakers. This landmark accomplishment will help to repair and expand roads, bridges, broadband internet in the U.S., as well as create new jobs.

The party leaders, according to the group, should have dismantled “Build Back Better” and instead of passing one huge spending bill that is not understood by voters.

Dave Wasserman (a Cook Political Report political analyst) said Biden’s low polling numbers, voter anxiety about inflation and COVID-19 all indicate that Democrats will face an “exceptionally challenging year”.

He stated that “Biden, the Democrats’ legislative program is not only deadlocked but that it has been viewed by voters as being disconnected from their everyday lives.”

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