Post-election analysis almost always describes what has just happened as a “historic” election. Instead, the 2022 midterm elections will go down in history as “history-defying” elections. They predicted a “red wave” – ​​and they did it right. Since the 1930s, the president’s party with an approval rating below 50% has suffered losses. President Biden’s approval rating is low at just 40%, inflation is high, and in the 22 midterm elections held from 1934 to 2018, the president’s party lost an average of 28 seats in the House of Representatives and four seats in the Senate.

So much attention was paid to the failure of the predicted “red wave” that the fact that this election was a clear victory for the Democrats was overlooked.

Not only did they defy history in terms of congressional results, but the Democrats scored major victories in state legislatures and gubernatorial districts across the country.

Young voters were just as active in 2022 as they were in 2020 and are more responsive to threats to democracy. This could have major implications for 2024.

All Greek-American members of Congress who ran – Gus Bilirakis, John Sarbanis, Dina Titus, Chris Pappas, Nicole Malliotaki – were re-elected.

The Greek-American community and Greek interests won the 2022 midterm elections. All Greek-American members of Congress who ran – Gus Bilirakis, John Sarbanis, Dina Titus, Chris Pappas, Nicole Malliotaki – were re-elected.

The most prominent Philhellene to run for re-election to the Senate, Chris Van Hollen, won an easy victory. And the next great philhellene in American politics, Robert Menendez Jr., won a decisive victory and will become a member of the House of Representatives from January.

Speaking of Menendez, while the composition of the Senate may not yet be decided, it is likely that the Democrats will retain control of the Senate, with Senator Menendez remaining chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. Even as a minority leader, he would wield considerable power, including the power to veto foreign arms sales, but as president, his ability to set the agenda and influence the government is even greater.

These victories were bolstered by losses suffered by Erdogan, who has been expecting a red wave since saying his talks with the “Republicans” about F16 sales were positive.

Dr. Oz’s much-lauded defeat in the Pennsylvania Senate was especially significant, as his ties to the Erdogan regime and his refusal to criticize the latter or clarify his position on key foreign policy issues hurt his campaign.

And this defeat was just the beginning of a bad night for Erdogan. All the leaders of the legislative effort to curb F16 sales to Turkey were re-elected on Tuesday evening. One of the co-chairs of the Turkish caucus suffered a crushing defeat – and he became the only Republican in Ohio to lose his seat.

Proponents of US-Greece and US-Cyprus bilateral relations are heading into the next Congress with headwinds.

Through resignations, defeats, and expected retirements, Greek-American members of Congress will advance through the ranks. Gus Bilirakis and John Sarbanis are already in the top 100 high-ranking members of the House of Representatives, and both will move up several places. Their ability—and the ability of Titos, Pappas, and Malliotakis—to hold key committee positions, train new members, and influence their party leadership is significant.

What you should pay attention to in the next couple of years:

Speaker of the House Mystery: The unexpectedly poor performance of Republican congressional campaigns has raised doubts about whether Kevin McCarthy can get enough votes to wrest the Speaker of the House from Nancy Pelosi. Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana — the current House Minority Leader — has been widely discussed as an alternative. Scalisi supported the amendment to limit F16 sales to Turkey. He appears to be on excellent terms with Congressmen Bilirakis and Malliotakis, and also has important ties to the Greek Americans in Louisiana in the elections.

The roles of some members of the House of Representatives have been expanded: with the departure of Ted Deutsch and Caroline Maloney from Congress, the positions of chairmen of the Democrats of two parliamentary groups, the Congress of the Greek-Israeli Alliance and the Greek Congressional Caucus. vacant. David Cichillin is set to take Deutsch’s place both on the caucus and as chairman of the Middle East and North Africa subcommittee, while MPs Frank Pallone and Chris Pappas could be part of the expanded leadership of the Greek caucus. All these representatives have taken an active part in the affairs of Greece, but have the opportunity to take on an even greater leadership role.

Possible Democratic Primary: Although President Biden has expressed interest in re-election, this is more unlikely than likely. So, if the Democratic primary begins sometime in 2023, support for Chris Pappas and Dina Titus in the first primary states of New Hampshire and Nevada, or state-level elected officials California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kunalakis and incoming Illinois Secretary of State Alexis Giannula – will be in high demand. Particular attention should be paid to Pappas, Kunalakis and Giannoulias, who are young enough to benefit from changes in the leadership of the Democratic Party, and all will have significant opportunities for development over the next 8 years.

In the short term, last Tuesday’s elections will continue the positive trend in relations between the US and Greece. But the long-term effects can be even more positive and significant.

* Mr. Eddie Zemenidis is Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC).