2022 Midterm Election Results: What could they mean for afterschool?

It has been a week since Election Day and ballots are still being counted in some of the hundreds of federal, state, and local contests. All 435 House seats were up for grabs in this year’s election, as were 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats; there were 36 gubernatorial races and seven state superintendents on ballots. One week later, a number of House races are still too close to call, and it is unclear which party will control the House of Representatives although as of this writing it is leaning towards Republican control. In the Senate, Democrats will remain in control. It remains to be seen if they will continue to navigate a 50-50 split, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking any would-be ties, or if they will win a 51-50 majority. The latter depends on the outcome of the December 6 Georgia run-off election.

While afterschool and summer learning programs are largely funded by parent fees, the public funding at the local, state, and federal levels is critical. The 2022 election results will affect existing programs and the prospect of additional support for programs. Afterschool was an issue in several campaigns, including the governor’s race in Wisconsin.

Here are some first impressions on what the results may mean for afterschool. Look for several additional blogs over the coming weeks diving into more detail of what the election means at the state and local levels.

US House of Representatives

It is too soon for a comprehensive analysis of the election results and what they might mean for spending decisions in what is left of the current Congress or an education agenda in the next one. In order to establish control of the House, a party must control 218 seats.  As of the writing of this blog Republicans control 211 seats to the Democrats 203 seats, with at least 10 seats yet to be decided. While neither party has clinched leadership, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), minority leader in the current Congress, has declared victory for his party and his intention to run for Speaker of the House. New member orientation is scheduled to start this week.

If there is a change in party control in the House for the 118^th Congress, which begins in January, it will mean new chairs for all House Committees. That could mean Representatives. Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) become chairs of the House Appropriations and House Education Committees, respectively. That said, Representative Foxx is term-limited as the Republican leader of the committee and would need to receive a waiver to stay on as Chair. If she is not granted a waiver to stay, that position could be taken by Representative Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), next in line in seniority.  A change in control of the House would mean new positions for afterschool champions, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who will likely become Ranking Members of the House Appropriations and House Education Committees, respectively. House Afterschool Caucus co-chair and Afterschool Alliance Board Member Representative David Cicilline (D-R.I.) won re-election and will continue to be an afterschool champion on Capitol Hill as well.

U.S. Senate

In the Senate, Democrats will maintain control in the 118^th Congress, preserving at least the 50-50 tie for now. They are hopeful that a run-off election in Georgia will grow their ranks by one, giving them a 51-50 majority. As a result of retirements, new Chairs are expected for both the Senate Appropriations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees. It is predicted that afterschool champion Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will leave her position as top Democrat on the HELP Committee be chair of the Appropriations panel, while afterschool champion Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will assume the Chairmanship of the Senate HELP Committee. Afterschool champion Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is expected to be Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Who might take the top Republican spot on the HELP Committee remains unclear.    

Senate Afterschool Caucus co-chair Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) election will move to a second round, after no one in that race received a simple majority of votes. (She is running against a Republican, so the result won’t affect the balance of the Senate.) The results will likely be known next month. Senate Afterschool Caucus co-chair Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) was not up for election this year.  Among the newly elected Senators, incoming Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has been supportive of providing children access to high-quality educational options, while incoming Senator John Fetterman (D-Penn.) worked with out-of-school youth as an AmeriCorps member in the mid-1990’s before expanding youth and art programs as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, in the mid-2000’s. Incoming Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) was a member of the House Afterschool Caucus when he served in that chamber, supporting increased funding for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers.     

Post-election follow up

Advocates for afterschool and every other education interest will be sizing up pending results and the backgrounds of new Senators, Representatives, governors, and state superintendents in coming weeks and months. They will also be looking for the current Congress to act on FY 2023 spending before the current temporary spending measure expires on December 16. The Alliance and its allies are hoping the proposed increases for the 21^st Century Community Learning Center and other programs are approved by the Congress before year’s end.

Afterschool Action Center
Afterschool Election Kit
Sample follow-up letter to newly elected officials