What is the impact of the U.S. midterm election on Canada?

Domestic issues are expected to be top of mind for Americans casting ballots in their midterm elections, but some of those issues could flow north to Canada.

Currently, the Democrats control both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, but Republicans just need to flip five seats to win back the House and one seat for control of the Senate.

But one expert explained told CityNews it’s not necessarily the congressional makeup that matters to Canada.

“In general, it matters indirectly than directly. There’s no huge difference between Republicans and Democrats in the way that they approach Canadian issues, ” said Christopher Sands, Director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute. “There’s always a little bit of protectionism or preference here or there.”

Sands said this election could see a lot of new faces in Washington as well.

One report found millennials represent “one out of every six candidates for Congress,” an increase of 57 per cent over the 2020 election. This election will also include two Gen Zers on the ballot for the first time.

Sands explained that means Ottawa will need to redouble its diplomatic efforts with the U.S.

“Many Americans are not as aware of the interactions in our economies, and they don’t realize how much it matters that we engage Canada.”

Thanks to lobbying by Canadian officials, the Inflation Reduction Act rewrote protectionist ‘Buy American’ policies, promoting ‘Buy North American’ approaches instead.

However, it passed without the support of a single Republican, and if they win control of Congress, they could disrupt its implementation.

“This is the risk presidents take when they push for legislation that only gets voted on by one party,” explained Sands.

If Republicans secure a House majority, they’ve also suggested a review of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. They could also refuse to raise the federal debt ceiling as a bargaining chip in their dealings with the Democratic president, which could ripple through the world economy at a time when post-pandemic recessions and a European energy crisis loom.

But Sands said he believes a divided government could have benefits for Canada.

“Once the Republicans own something, the president can say, ‘I don’t have to like them but if we want to get anything done, we have to talk to the Republicans.’,” he said. “If Congress is able to function on a less partisan basis, I think Canada stands to benefit because a lot of what Congress is debating is stuff that Canada’s debating, but Canada has a harder time changing the world all by itself.”

Tuesday’s voting marks the first major national elections since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June to end constitutional protection of abortion rights.

All 435 seats in the narrowly held House and one-third of the evenly divided Senate are being decided.