Tuesday’s special elections in Rhode Island and Utah are poised to shake up the national political landscape. In Rhode Island, voters will pick a replacement for the late Democratic Rep. David Cicilline, while in Utah, they’ll decide a vacant seat in their state House of Representatives.
The outcomes of these races could have implications for the balance of power in Washington. In Rhode Island, a Republican victory would narrow the Democrats’ majority in the House, while in Utah, a Democratic win would give the party control of the state House for the first time in a decade.
The races have drawn national attention, with outside groups pouring millions of dollars into advertising. The results will be closely watched by both parties as a barometer of the political climate ahead of next year’s presidential election.