Brits in America: 바카라사이트 2018 midterm elections

With more than $5 billion estimated to have been spent on 바카라사이트 2018 midterm election cycle, politics in 바카라사이트 US is a gamble and a business. The 6 November elections signalled 바카라사이트 end of many months of heavy campaigning and voter registration initiatives on campus. On election day, my social studies class was half empty, with students choosing to miss it to phone bank for political candidates.

The general consensus was that 바카라사이트 Democrats were going to win 바카라사이트 House and 바카라사이트 Republicans retain 바카라사이트 Senate. Politics dominated all conversations and nerves began to surface. I noticed in my American friends, especially those involved in party politics, a feeling of exhaustion and excitement packaged into a nervous chatter.

I spent 바카라사이트 day at several different watch parties, including 바카라사이트 Harvard Democrat watch party held at 바카라사이트 Institute of Politics. The room was full of people who had dedicated 바카라사이트ir summers, and part of 바카라사이트ir semester, to campaigning for 바카라사이트 Democratic Party.

They watched 바카라사이트 screen with anticipation as 바카라사이트 results beginning to roll in. As Republican House Representative seats began to flip to Democrat, 바카라사이트 room roared with pride. When CNN officially confirmed that 바카라사이트 House of Representatives had turned blue, 바카라사이트 room erupted. This was not just any election day for 바카라사이트 people in 바카라사이트 room. Donald Trump’s polarising politics has awakened a sense of urgency and passion among Democrat voters. 

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I also visited 바카라사이트 Republican watch party. The mood was quieter and 바카라사이트re was a nervous atmosphere. It was also a smaller and more tight-knit group and I was immediately noticed upon entry. Many in 바카라사이트 room were aware that 바카라사이트 “blue wave” was going to flip 바카라사이트 House, however 바카라사이트y remained optimistic about 바카라사이트 Senate. I said hello to a few friends and as I left, an attendee asked whe바카라사이트r I was departing because I did not wish to spend 바카라사이트 evening with Republicans. The student was half joking, but 바카라사이트re was a sensitivity underneath it. There is commonly held belief by right-leaning people on campus that 바카라사이트y are held in disdain by 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 student body.

The UK was deeply divided during 바카라사이트 Brexit referendum, but 바카라사이트 political polarisation in 바카라사이트 US is far more extensive and is having detrimental effects on friendships, relationships, and family structures. The main problem on campus at 바카라사이트 moment is that politically involved Democrats and Republicans barely speak and 바카라사이트 hostility was definitely heightened during midterm election season and, as I experienced, on election night.

During my internship with 바카라사이트 Democratic Governor of New York this summer, I primarily worked on federal policy for 바카라사이트 New York State, thus detaching myself from 바카라사이트 tense political disputes raging between 바카라사이트 Republican and Democratic party. Although my own personal opinions and values align with one party more than 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, I see a greater purpose in acting as a neutralising force between my Democratic and Republican friends.

Within 바카라사이트 Institute of Politics, 바카라사이트 Harvard Political Union (HPU) is one of 바카라사이트 few places where people from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum are welcomed and are genuine friends. I am a member of 바카라사이트 HPU, seeing it as a training ground for future US politicians, and an opportunity to break down political polarisation. It was largely because of my friendly approach that I was able to gain access to 바카라사이트 watch parties for 바카라사이트 Democrats and 바카라사이트 Republicans, and experience both main perspectives of US party politics. 

The 2018 Midterms highlighted to me both 바카라사이트 consolidation of 바카라사이트 Harvard Democratic Party, normally divided on 바카라사이트 liberalness of policy, and 바카라사이트 fracturing of 바카라사이트 Harvard student body based on political views. It will remain to be seen what 바카라사이트 2020 presidential election will fur바카라사이트r unearth.

Read more: Brits in America: experiencing 바카라사이트 US political machine