Subject: Skimm Special: E.T., Vote Home
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2018 20:08:17 -0400 (EDT)

=tr>

OCTOBE= 23, 2018

READ IN BROWSER

Midterms are in T-14 days. And we want to make sure you’re ready=for the polls. Say ‘hi’ to a Special Skimm all about the e=ection. But don’t get used to seeing us at night. Although...we ma= have one or two more surprises in store before the big day.

YOU MISS 100% OF THE VOTE= YOU DON’T CAST

The Story

Midterms are congressional elections. Meaning: you're voting for people in Cong=ess, plus some positions and ballot measures at the state and local level.=Stay with us.

The Mood

Typically, midterms are seen as a referendum on a pre=ident – since it's halfway through their term. Voters tend to go t= the polls somewhere along the spectrum of 'you're killing it, lemme keep =our party in power' to 'you're pretty bad at this, lemme vote for literall= any other party.' Historically, it's more the second one. Ever since the '40s, the president's part= has almost always lost seats in the midterm elections.

The Projections

Here's how things are looking two weeks out...

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJSOHBBbHg/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B7bee42ea" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">In the Senate: Republicans have a good shot at keeping control of i=. There are 35 seats up for grabs this year since senators serve six-year =erms. Dems hold a majority of those 35 seats, some in states President Tru=p won back in '16. Not exactly good odds for Dems.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJFT2tuaHg/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bff46aff2" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">In the House: Dems might have the edge to=flip it. Key word: might. All 435 House seats are on the ballot since reps=serve two-year terms. Dems would need to gain at least 23 seats to turn th= House blue. This year, there are a lot of competitive races. That's partl= because a number of GOP members are retiring. But a blue wave isn't in the bag yet, and it's worth =oting that Republicans are ou=raising their Dem rivals.

The Big Issues

Depends on who you ask. Republicans and Democrats are=divided on what's most important to them. Here are some key issues on voters' minds:

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJDNlJsYnc/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B4622c678" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">Climate change…One of the most im=ortant issues for Dem voters. And something the UN is flashing a big warning sign about. The left =ays climate change is a national security threat and that we need to get o=r sh*t together so that future generations don't have to deal with this. T=e right is pretty divided on whether the earth is actually heating up, whe=her it's humanity's fault, and what (if anything) to do about it.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJNR3kxR1Q/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bc306e14b" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">Immigration…One of the most impor=ant issues for GOP voters. And something that's come up a lot this year wi=h things like the border wall=/a>, the "zero tolerance" pol=cy, and migrant caravans<=a>. Both sides agree that the immigration system needs a makeover. But the=right says 'let's focus on defending the borders from undocumented immigra=ts to keep America safe.' And the left says 'seems kinda un-American to tu=n people away and deport them.'

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJEVXdHWVM/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B2e4ff6f3" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">Health care…In 2016, the GOP ran =n a platform to repeal and re=lace Obamacare. The party got control of both chambers of Congress, but turns out the 'repeal an= replace' part wasn't tha= easy. In 2017, more than in the US did not have health insurance. And the two=parties can't agree on how to fix this problem. The right thinks the gov s=ouldn't require Americans to have health insurance, and that Obamacare is =xpensive and hurts economic growth. The left thinks the gov should make af=ordable insurance available to all Americans, and that Obamacare is just t=e start.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJBbFBFVXI/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bdd29cdfa" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">Supreme Court...The Brett Kavanaugh confi=mation process and the sexual=misconduct allegations against him divided the country. And not necess=rily along party lines. Some thought he deserved the benefit of the doubt. Others thought we sho=ld #BelieveWomen. He is n=w the second Supreme Cour= justice appointed by President Trump and confirmed by a Republican-contro=led Senate. The confirmations are considered a big win for the GOP going i=to midterms. And both sides are hoping it convinces their base to show up =o the polls.

The Year Of...

Some people (not us) think midterms can be kinda bori=g. But this year is different. Here's what separates the 2018 midterms fro= the others:

Trump...as in, Presiden= Trump and his tweets have dominated DC politics since his 2016 win. Some =eople love him. Some people hate him. Some people are still confused. Both=parties are hoping to use this to their advantage: GOP lawmakers are sayin= to Trump's base 'love us, too.' But others are distancing themselves from=the more polarizing parts of his agenda (think: border policy). Dems are hoping his controversial na=ure will help them win some new votes.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJFcXJTZWQ/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B6fdf661a" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">Women…as in, more women are runni=g for House, Senate, and governor positions than ever before – and=hundreds have won their primaries. Since a majority of these women are run=ing as Dems, some think the "pink wave" is a response to Trump, the #MeToo=movement, last year's Women's March, and a general desire for more represe=tation in the gov. (Note: only around a qua=ter of elected positions in the US are held by women). Eyes are also on mi=ority candidates who could help make Congress m=re diverse than ever.

Progressives...as in, the ones trying to =cooch the Democratic party to the left, to the left. They're advocating fo= things like abolishing ICE, Medicare for all, and tuition-free college. S=me call themselves democratic socialists. O=hers don't. Some are winning votes. Others aren't.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/14852631.2396240/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJ5dU5ta0Q/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B78ef6d9c" style="color:#00b2=9;text-decoration:none;">#NeverAgain...as in, the movement started=by Parkland, FL students to address gun violence and protect others from m=ss shootings. They organized a massive "March for Our Lives" protest in DC=earlier this year – now they're trying to march young people to the polls.

theSkimm

Those issues you say you care about? They are directl= impacted by who's running the gov. Be a responsible human and hire your g=vernment on November 6th.

BYOB (BRING YOUR OWN BALL=T)

We want you to go to the polls feeling informed. So w= made you a little somethin', somethin'. Meet, your ballot cheat sheet. It has everything from the big issues in y=ur state, to the key races to watch, to explainers of down-ballot position=. Vote well and conquer.

THE NUMBERS, SKIMM'D

FYI - We care about data. And Skimm'rs. And voting. S= we ran a survey with Survey Monkey last month to find out about all three= Here's what you told us...

8=% of female millennial Skimm'rs think voting in US elections is very i=portant. Woot, woot. Sadly, that number goes down to...

8=% when asking the general population. And down to...

6=% when asking all female millennials.

One =ther thing...the 2016 election was decided by a little less than 80,000 votes. Let that sink in.

COMMIT TO VOTE

Voting. Is. Important. We'd shout it from the rooftop= if we weren't afraid of heights. So instead, we sent you this. You in?

SKIMM SHARE

Forward this email to your friends who need a little =xtra push to get to the polls.

*No Excuses is theSkimm’s nonpartis=n campaign aiming to get 100,000 people to the polls this November

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Copyright (c) 2018 theSkimm, All rights reserved=

Our mailing address is:

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