President Joe Biden Says 'Democracy At Risk' At Bowie Rally Nov. 7

BOWIE, MD — President Joe Biden reiterated his assertion that "democracy is at risk" if Republicans win control of the U.S. House and Senate. He made the comment at Bowie State University Monday for a get-out-the vote rally for the Democratic National Committee.

His appearance in the blue state was a final push in support of Maryland gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore, a Democrat seeking to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Larry Hogan.

Control of Congress is at stake in Tuesday's midterm elections, and for President Biden, the ability to move his domestic and social agenda forward in the last two years of his current term.

Maryland gives Democrats one of their best opportunities to reclaim a Republican-held governor's seat, the Associated Press said. That final-night choice followed Biden's strategy of sticking largely to his party's strongholds rather than stumping in more competitive territory, where control of Congress may ultimately be decided.

Democrats contend Republican victories could profoundly and adversely reshape the country, eliminating abortion rights nationwide and unleashing broad threats to the very future of American democracy. Republicans say the public is tired of Biden policies amid high inflation and concerns about crime.

“We know in our bones that our democracy is at risk,” Biden said during the evening rally. “I want you to know, we’ll meet this moment."

The Bowie event followed Biden’s late-campaign strategy of sticking largely to his party’s strongholds rather than stumping in more competitive territory, where control of Congress may ultimately be decided. Biden won Maryland with more than 65 percent of the vote in 2020 and appeared with Moore, the 44-year-old Rhodes Scholar who could become the state’s first Black governor.

Keeping his message positive, Biden said at an earlier virtual event, “Imagine what we can do in a second term if we maintain control.”

C-Span carried Biden's Bowie speech live at 7 p.m.

A final FiveThirtyEight/Ispos Election Tracking poll before Election Day found Americans fall about equally into three camps,“Democrats, Republicans and neither side.”

The First Lady delivered remarks at a political rally in Ashburn, Virginia, for U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton Wednesday morning.

As of Nov. 7, Moore (D) was polling ahead of Dan Cox (R) in the Maryland governor's race.

Related: MD Governor's Election 2022: Wes Moore, Dan Cox Make Pitch To Voters

Maryland has twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans. That's why Moore is polling with a 30-point lead over Cox before Election Day.

A recent Baltimore Sun poll projected that Moore has 58 percent of the vote compared to Cox's 27 percent, Real Clear Politics reported.

The midterms are historically a referendum on the sitting president, and it’s not uncommon for them to lose support in Congress. Former President Donald Trump lost 42 seats in the 2018 midterms; former President Barack Obama lost 63 in 2010, and former President Bill Clinton lost 54 in 1994.

Here’s a quick look at what’s on the ballot:

• Control of the U.S. Senate, currently at a 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans, is on the line. The election forecasting site FiveThirtyEight calls it a “dead heat,” saying Republicans’ best chances to pick up seats are in Georgia and Nevada, while Democrats’ best chance to pick up a seat is in Pennsylvania. Other states in play for control of the Senate are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
• Republicans to take control of the House. Based on an aggregation of polls, RealClear Politics said 174 seats are solidly Democratic, 228 are solidly Republican and 33 are considered tossups.
• Nearly two-thirds of states are electing governors. Currently, Republicans control 28 gubernatorial seats, while Democrats hold 22. Of the 36 midterm gubernatorial races, those in Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon Wisconsin are considered tossups, according to election forecasters. Governors have powerful influence, especially after the Supreme Court sent abortion back to states to decide.

Biden is also slated to make an appearance in Columbia Monday, according to news reports, but no location has been announced and it does not appear on the presidential schedule.

Related: 2022 Midterm Elections: Control Of Congress, Governors, Weed On Ballot

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.