Jim Kolbe, senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona: “It seems as though every election in the United States is deemed ‘the most consequential’ or even ‘existential.’ But the 2022 midterm election does carry an added sense of urgency imposed by the assault on democracy reflected in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and the continued false denial of the election results in 2020. More than 175 Republican candidates for statewide offices continue to repeat the falsehood that Biden was not legitimately elected president. However, most Americans don’t see the election as a referendum on democracy; only about 5 percent of voters think that is the most important issue in this election. Inflation and the uncertain economic future will be the determinant of their votes. It is almost certain that the House majority will go to the Republicans, while the Senate is likely to be…”