Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: IPP's Tareen, PTI-P's Khattak quit politics, JI's Haq steps down from party chief position after bad performance in Pak polls
Pakistan Election Results 2024: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have commenced formal discussions to forge a government at the center with the support of their allies, as political scheming has reached its peak following the poll on February 8th, in which neither political party was able to gain a simple majority, as reported by Dawn. Pakistan's two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the prime minister's job after inconclusive elections last week forced them to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by independents backed by Imran Khan. The squabbling is likely to deepen concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation which is mired in an economic crisis and battling a surge in militant violence. Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 2.1% on Monday, its first day of trading after the results. Stay with TOI for live updates:Read Less
Pak's 2 political parties forfeit provincial assembly seats in Sindh; say Feb 8 polls rigged
In
an unusual move, Pakistan's two political parties on Monday announced
to forfeit three provincial assembly seats in Sindh as a protest against
alleged rigging in the February 8 elections, the claims rejected by the
country's top election body. Jamaat-i-Islami Party senior leader Hafiz
Naeemur Rehman forfeited his seat in the Sindh province that he won in
Thursday's elections, saying it was not him but the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf party-backed candidate who won from the constituency he
contested.
According to the provisional results released by the
Election Commission of Pakistan for the February 8 general elections,
Naeem won from the PS-129 constituency (Karachi Central VIII) with
26,296 votes.
Addressing a press conference, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman
said that he took the unusual step to highlight the alleged rigging in
many constituencies during the February 8 polls.
IPP's Tareen, PTI-P's Khattak quit politics, JI's Haq steps down from party chief position after bad performance in Pak polls
Taking
responsibility for the poor performance of their parties in the
February 8 polls, Pakistan's IPP chief Jahangir Khan Tareen and PTI-P
central chairman Pervez Khattak on Monday announced their decision to
quit politics while JI chief Sirajul Haq said he would resign his party
chief position. The decision by Tareen of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party
(IPP), Khattak of Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaaf-Parliamentarian (PTI-P), and
Haq of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) came as their parties witnessed significant
drubbing in the general elections.
"I would like to thank
everyone who supported me in this election and want to offer my
congratulations to my opponents. I have immense respect for the will of
the people of Pakistan. Therefore, I have decided to resign from my
position as Chairman of IPP and step away from politics altogether,"
Tareen said in a post on X.
"My gratitude to all the members of
IPP. I wish them the absolute best. By the Grace of Allah, I will
continue to serve my country to the best of my ability in a private
capacity," he added.
The race to govern Pakistan: Who's in the running, what's the mood, and what happens next?
The final results of Pakistan’s elections are out. But there’s still no winner.
Allies
of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan won the most seats in the
National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, in last Thursday’s
controversial vote. It was a shock outcome given the problems his
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) faced -- no campaign rallies, no
polling agents on election day, and internet restrictions. They won 93
out of 265 National Assembly seats. It’s not enough to form a
government, however.
The other two mainstream parties, led by
Khan’s rivals, also failed to secure enough seats to form a government
on their own. They are the PML-N of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
and the PPP, led by political dynasty scion Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari. They
won 75 and 54 seats respectively.
It’s Pakistan’s parliament that chooses the next prime minister, so having a majority is crucial.
Pakistan's top poll body blames mobile service suspension on poll day for delay
Contrary
to its earlier claim, Pakistan's top election watchdog on Monday blamed
the suspension of internet and mobile services on Thursday when
country-wide polling took place for general elections, which it said did
"create hindrance" in declaring results in a timely manner. Amid
rumours of horse-trading in the absence of a clear majority and also the
delay in declaring results on all seats of the National Assembly (NA),
the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also claimed that the delay in
results did not harm "any specific political party."
After the
first result trickled down late that same night, the final result for
the NA polls was declared only on Sunday, prompting all political
parties, common citizens and, observers too, to condemn the ECP.
Nawaz Sharif still in the race for the prime ministerial slot, say PML-N leaders
PML-N supremo and three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is still in the race for the prime ministerial slot despite his party not securing a simple majority in the general elections in Pakistan, PML-N leaders said on Monday. "We are having discussion with Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) over power-sharing formula in the upcoming coalition government in the Centre and Nawaz Sharif cannot be ruled out as the prime ministerial candidate," Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Irfan Saddique told a private news channel.He said Nawaz Sharif, 74, is the candidate for the prime minister slot from the PML-N."Had we got a simple majority, Nawaz would have been the prime minister. However, under the current equation in the Parliament, Nawaz is still in the race for the post of Prime Minister," Saddique said.
Pak's Jamaat-i-Islami party candidate forfeits seat in Sindh; says Imran Khan's party-backed candidate actual winner
In an unusual move, a senior leader of Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami Party on Monday forfeited his seat in the Sindh province that he won in Thursday's elections, saying it was not him but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party-backed candidate who has won from the constituency he contested. According to the provisional results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the February 8 general elections, Naeem won from the PS-129 constituency (Karachi Central VIII) with 26,296 votes.Addressing a press conference, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that he took the unusual step to highlight the alleged rigging in many constituencies during the February 8 polls.
Uncertainty ahead for Pakistan after indecisive election
Pakistan has weeks of political uncertainty ahead following its indecisive election, analysts said Monday, with dozens of constituency results facing challenges in court and rival parties negotiating possible coalitions.Independent candidates loyal to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan took most of the seats in Thursday's polls, scuppering the chances of the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from securing a ruling majority.Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defied a months-long crackdown that crippled campaigning and forced candidates to run as independents to emerge as the winners of the vote.
Imran Khan's party to sit in opposition; rules out joining any coalition govt in Pakistan: top leader
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party will not join hands with rival PML-N or the PPP to form a coalition government and would sit in the opposition despite having a majority in the newly elected Parliament, party leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said. Independent candidates, mostly affiliated with Khan's PTI, secured the most parliamentary seats in last week's general election. However, PTI does not have enough seats in the 266-member National Assembly to form a government on its own."We don't feel comfortable with both (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party) of them. There will be no talks with anyone to make a government or to make a government together with them. It is better to sit in the opposition than to make a government [with them], but we think we have the majority," Gohar Khan told Dawn News.
Pakistan's election commission releases party positions of controversial polls after 3 days
Pakistan's election commission on Monday released the full results of the controversy-marred general elections, giving the preliminary position of all political parties in the national and provincial assemblies. The general elections were held on Thursday, but there was an unusual delay in the announcement of results which led to allegations of vote rigging at many constituencies across the country.While both jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and ex-premier Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have claimed victory, a coalition government appears inevitable as no single party has got the majority in the National Assembly.
Protests escalate across Pakistan against poll 'rigging'
The workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began protests throughout the nation over the alleged "rigging in the general election" that was held on February 8.PTI members continued their protests against what they perceived to be election tampering in Peshawar by blocking the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. The protests started on Sunday.At the Motorway toll plaza, a sizable contingent of PTI employees and supporters assembled, closing the route to all traffic from 12:00 on Sunday night. For the third day in a row, PTI employees have demonstrated against suspected election manipulation in eight provinces and one national assembly seat, Dawn reported.
Khan supporters and other Pakistani parties block highways to protest election results
Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and members of other political parties blocked key highways and started a daylong strike in the volatile southwest Monday to protest alleged rigging of last week's elections.Thursday's vote to choose a new parliament was overshadowed by the vote-rigging allegations, an unprecedented mobile phone shutdown, and the exclusion of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, from the vote.While election winners were celebrating victory, PTI and other parties refused to accept their defeat in dozens of constituencies. Dozens of Khan’s supporters were briefly detained in the eastern city of Lahore over the weekend while protesting alleged vote-rigging.
Former Pak PM Sharif's PML-N party secures support of five more independent candidates
In a boost to the PML-N party, five newly elected independent members of Pakistan's National Assembly on Monday decided to join the party led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as he tries to form a coalition government after the election resulted in a hung Parliament. This comes a day after one independent candidate backed by Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In total, six independent candidates have joined PML-N.Sardar Shamshir Mazari from NA 189, Imran Akram from PP 195, Sohail Khan from PP 240, Khizr Hussain Mazari from PP 297, and Sahibzada Mohammad Gazin Abbasi from PP 249 were among those who met Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) posted on X on Monday.
Pakistan's benchmark share index falls 2.1%
Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 2.1% in trading on Monday, according to the stock exchange's website, after last week's national election ended with no party winning a majority in parliament.
IMF review mission plans Pakistan visit post-new government formation
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) review mission is scheduled to visit Pakistan following the formation of new governments at the central and provincial levels, a process expected to take two to five weeks after the February 8 general elections, as per Geo News.The impending visit of the IMF delegation holds significant importance for the completion of the USD 3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA), set to expire on April 12. Subsequently, to prevent a default on repayment of foreign debts, the mission will finalize the key aspects of the anticipated medium-term bailout package.
Pakistan Election Results: With no clear winner in polls, Nawaz Sharif's party pitches formation of 'participatory coalition government'
As the result of the February 8 general elections have thrown up no clear winner, Nawaz Sharif's political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has pitched the idea of a "participatory coalition government," claiming that no political party has the mandate to establish a government in the Center, according to Dawn.Azam Nazeer Tarar, a former law minister, insisted that the elections were "fair," calling this situation "Hobson's choice" and pointing out that no political party had won a majority in the National Assembly.
Pakistan Election Results: PML-N, PPP initiate 'first formal contact' for government formation
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have commenced formal discussions to forge a government at the center with the support of their allies, as political scheming has reached its peak following the poll on February 8th, in which neither political party was able to gain a simple majority, as reported by Dawn.In light of the ongoing dialogue with the PPP, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif reached out to JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to brief him on the meeting with the PPP and solicit his support for the formation of the federal government. Maulana Fazl assured a response by Wednesday.
Political leaders wrangle over premiership after inconclusive Pakistan vote
Pakistan's
two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the
prime minister's job after inconclusive elections last week forced them
to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by
independents backed by Imran Khan.
The squabbling is likely to
deepen concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation which is
mired in an economic crisis and battling a surge in militant violence.
Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 2.1% on Monday, its first day of
trading after the results.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar has said there is “heavy” police deployment outside the party’s office in Lahore. Recalling an incident from last month when the office was allegedly “burnt down by ‘unidentified men’”, he said the place had been empty since then.
Pakistan Election Results: No govt will have luxury of time, political security after these elections, says analyst
“Three
potential challenges are linked to the legitimacy of the elections
through prolonged legal proceedings, protests and potential for
violence,” said political analyst Amber Rahim Shamsi.
“In the
short-term, any coalition birthed through a highly controversial
election in a highly charged political environment will find it
challenging to enact unpopular reforms that Pakistan desperately needs,”
Shamsi told AFP.
“No government will have the luxury of time and political security after these elections,” said Shamsi.
“There
are also fears that this political insecurity will continue until the
next elections, which could be earlier than five years,” added Shamsi.
Pakistan Election Results: Election Commission of Pakistan sets up counters to assist people filing petitions against election results
In
a post on X, a spokesperson for the Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) announced that the commission has established four counters in
front of their office to facilitate those filing petitions against
election results.
Each counter corresponds to one province and
has been set up to offer support to individuals visiting the Election
Secretariat for the submission of election petitions, Dawn news
reported.
Pakistan Election Results: Protests escalate across Pakistan against poll 'rigging'
The
workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began
protests throughout the nation over the alleged "rigging in the general
election" that was held on February 8.
PTI members continued
their protests against what they perceived to be election tampering in
Peshawar by blocking the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. The protests
started on Sunday.
At the Motorway toll plaza, a sizable
contingent of PTI employees and supporters assembled, closing the route
to all traffic from 12:00 on Sunday night. For the third day in a row,
PTI employees have demonstrated against suspected election manipulation
in eight provinces and one national assembly seat, Dawn reported.
PTI
had originally organised "peaceful" protests against "massive rigging
post-polling" in several major cities in the Punjab province of
Pakistan; however, it cancelled some of these events hours in advance,
claiming concerns about "a false flag operation."
Pakistan Election Results: IMF review mission plans Pakistan visit post-new government formation
The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) review mission is scheduled to visit
Pakistan following the formation of new governments at the central and
provincial levels, a process expected to take two to five weeks after
the February 8 general elections, as per Geo News.
The impending
visit of the IMF delegation holds significant importance for the
completion of the USD 3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA), set to
expire on April 12. Subsequently, to prevent a default on repayment of
foreign debts, the mission will finalize the key aspects of the
anticipated medium-term bailout package.
According to the IMF's
recent staff report, the rephasing of access for the second review to
March 15, 2024, allows ample time for completing the program's
structural agenda, as reported by Geo News.
Pakistan Election Results: Pakistan's benchmark share index falls 2.1%
Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 2.1% in trading on Monday, according to the stock exchange's website, after last week's national election ended with no party winning a majority in parliament.
Pakistan Election Results: Form 45 tallying must be done in line with Election Act: PTI’s Taimur Jhagra
PTI leader Taimur Jhagra has demanded that the tallying of Form 45 “must be done in line with the Election Act” for his PK-79 constituency, reported Dawn. In a post on X, he said it was being suggested to him to cite his political rival Jalal Khan’s “alleged Afghan nationality” as an issue but asserted that it was “not the basis of my grievance”. “It is very simple for me. I have obtained 25102 votes. He obtained 1619 votes. The second highest vote-getter JUI-F obtained 5188 votes,” he added.
Pakistan Election Results: PML-N, PPP initiate 'first formal contact' for government formation
Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have
commenced formal discussions to forge a government at the center with
the support of their allies, as political scheming has reached its peak
following the poll on February 8th, in which neither political party was
able to gain a simple majority, as reported by Dawn.
In light of
the ongoing dialogue with the PPP, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif
reached out to JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to brief him on the
meeting with the PPP and solicit his support for the formation of the
federal government. Maulana Fazl assured a response by Wednesday.
Simultaneously,
a meeting with the political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was
convened in Lahore, while another meeting with the PML-Q led by Shujaat
Hussain is scheduled for today (February 12) in Islamabad, as per Dawn.
Pakistan Election Results: Ex-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's PML-N floats idea of 'participatory coalition government': Report
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) led by former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif has pitched the idea of a "participatory coalition government" to rival parties to end the logjam following the split verdict in the February 8 election, according to media reports on Monday. PML-N has 75 seats in the 266-member National Assembly, the single largest party. Independent members, mostly backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, have secured 101 seats.
As
the result of the February 8 general elections have thrown up no clear
winner, Nawaz Sharif's political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) has pitched the idea of a "participatory coalition government,"
claiming that no political party has the mandate to establish a
government in the Center, according to Dawn.
Azam Nazeer Tarar, a
former law minister, insisted that the elections were "fair," calling
this situation "Hobson's choice" and pointing out that no political
party had won a majority in the National Assembly.
Following a meeting of the party's top brass in Jati Umra, where discussions were held over the future course of action.
Pakistan Election Results: Another PML-N-led coalition govt has ‘no public support’: PTI’s Shafqat Mahmood
PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood has said that another coalition government similar to the previous PML-N-led one is “in the scoffing led by Shehbaz Sharif”.“N league is the Q party of current times. Kings’ choice but no public support,” he said in a post on X, reported Dawn.
At
a time when there is growing discontent among people in Pakistan over
delay in election results, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman
Barrister Gohar Khan has said a firm no to having power-sharing talks
with political parties of Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Dawn
reported.
However, he has said that PTI has decided to merge with
another political party as the lack of reserved seats would hinder
their chances of forming a government. But, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) or Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is what they are not looking
forward to.
While speaking to Dawn, Barrister Gohar Khan revealed
on Sunday, "We don't feel comfortable with both of them. There will be
no talks with anyone to make a government or to make a government
together with them. It is better to sit in the opposition than to make a
government [with them], but we think we have the majority."
Pakistan Election Results: Petition filed in ECP against rigging in Punjab, says PTI-backed Naeem Haider
PTI-backed independent candidate Naeem Haider Panjutha has said he has filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan against alleged rigging in his constituency PP-71, reported Dawn.
When Pakistan's government censored the media, former prime minister Imran Khan's party posted campaign videos on TikTok. When the police barred his supporters from holding rallies, they hosted virtual gatherings online.And when Khan ended up behind bars, his supporters produced speeches using artificial intelligence to simulate his voice.
Will remain in the PTI: Musarrat Cheema
PTI leader Musarrat Cheema has said that she is a part of the PTI and will remain.
In
a post on X, she said, “I am in the PTI and will remain, God-willing.
But whoever caused damage to the party will be dealt with,” reported
Dawn.
Pakistan election 2024: PML-N in alliance talks with PPP, MQM-P; Nawaz could be PM
To
carve out a formula for the formation of a federal government, the
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders began discussing the terms
of an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida
Quami Movement-Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.
According
to the report, PML-N would take the post of prime minister, and the
posts of the President and Speaker will be set aside for its partners if
an alliance is agreed upon.
Similarly, the post of deputy
speaker could be given to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)
or any of the Independent members joining the coalition. Besides, the
PML-N may keep the finance ministry, and other ministries will be
distributed among allies with mutual consultation, according to the
report.
Pakistan election 2024: Imran Khan's 'victory speech' from jail shows AI's peril and promise
Imran Khan has spent the duration of the country's electoral campaign in jail, disqualified from running in what experts have described as one of the least credible general elections in the country's 76-year history. But from behind bars, he has been rallying his supporters in recent months with speeches that use artificial intelligence to replicate his voice, part of a tech-savvy strategy his party deployed to circumvent a crackdown by the military.
Pakistan election 2024: PTI rejects talks with PML-L and PPP
Imran’s PTI has rejected talks with PML-N and PPP and intends to form federal government independently. It is willing to contest poll results they deem manipulated.
Pakistan election 2024: PPP seeks PM post for Bilawal in talks with PML-N
PPP, which has come third in Pakistan general elections with 54 seats behind independents affiliated with Imran Khan’s PTI (95) and Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N (74), is demanding during talks with PML-N the PM’s post for its leader and ex-foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In return, PPP is offering PML-N support to form a provincial govt in Punjab
Pakistan election 2024: PML-N secures support of first independent candidate backed by Imran Khan's party
The PML-N, which is all set to form the coalition government in Pakistan along with the PPP, on Sunday managed to secure the support of the first independent candidate backed by Imran Khan's party to increase its strength in Parliament. Wasim Qadir, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidate who defeated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's stalwart Sheikh Rohail Asghar from Lahore's National Assembly-121 constituency, joined the PML-N after a meeting with Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the party supremo Nawaz Sharif, at her residence.
Pakistan election 2024: Information minister says Caretaker government has fulfilled constitutional responsibility by holding polls
Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Sunday said the Caretaker Government had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by holding free, fair and transparent elections in a peaceful manner. Speaking on a television talk show, the minister said the Caretaker Government had extended al-out facilitation to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding the polls. The results were a testament to the transparency of the elections, he added.
Pakistan election: Who stands a chance to form a government in Pakistan?
Going by their numerical strength, both the PML-N and the PPP are in a position to form a coalition government in the Centre. However, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif announced that all parties except PTI should join hands in the upcoming set up. According to the results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) till Sunday, of the total 265 National Assembly seats, PTI-backed Independents bagged 93 seats, followed by PML-N at 73, PPP 54, MQM 17 and others 19.
PML-N, PPP agree to cooperate to save Pakistan from 'instability'
The PPP and PML-N have, in principle, reached an agreement to prevent political instability in the country. During the meeting, a comprehensive discussion took place regarding the current state of the nation and the potential for political collaboration in the future. Leaders from both parties have affirmed their commitment to political cooperation aimed at fostering political stability in the country. Emphasizing that a majority of the people have entrusted them with a mandate, the leaders expressed their determination not to let the people down, the parties said in a tweet.
Pakistan election: PTI’s Barrister Gohar rules out talks with PPP, PML-N
PTI Barrister, Gohar Ali Khan, has categorically rejected the idea of engaging in discussions with the PML-N and PPP regarding the formation of the forthcoming federal government in Pakistan. He expressed discomfort with the idea of negotiations with both parties and asserted that there would be no dialogue aimed at forming a government jointly with them. Gohar stated during a Dawn news show that the PTI prefers sitting in the opposition rather than forming a government with either party, emphasizing their belief in possessing the majority.
Israel War news
Glen Cove, New York – Mansions rise from the coastline. Sailboats clip the waves. And overlooking the landscape, atop a grassy hill, sits the house of a former president, Theodore Roosevelt.
Nestled on the north shore of Long Island, New York’s third congressional district is the wealthiest in the state — and recently, it has emerged as a key battleground for control of the United States House of Representatives.
‘Strategic interests’, lobby power: What influences Biden’s Israel support?
Biden says he has decided Jordan strike response
South Carolina primary set to test Biden’s support among Black voters
On February 13, all eyes will be on the district as it holds a special election to fill its House seat, left vacant after the expulsion of former Representative George Santos.
But the stakes go beyond a single district. Experts say the race can be seen as a preview for the general elections on November 5, when the presidency and every seat in the House will be up for grabs.
“February 13 is really about November 5 in a lot of suburbs around the country, not just this one,” said Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean at the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.
“Both parties see this as a bellwether to test strategies and tactics and messages — to see how they deal with various minefields they’re facing.”
For Democrats, Levy dubbed those political minefields “the three I’s”: immigration, inflation and Israel. For Republicans, one of the primary hurdles is the issue of abortion, he said.
Republicans ‘can’t afford to lose a seat’
To tackle those issues, control over the House of Representatives is critical. Republicans currently hold the most seats in the House — though their lead is razor thin and declining.
The party occupies 219 seats, down from 222 at the start of last year. At least two Republicans have resigned in the interim, and another left to grapple with cancer.
With Democrats holding 212 seats, the House is vulnerable to a shift in party leadership. Any district that flips — or changes party — during the upcoming election could help tip the balance of power towards the Democrats.
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