| It's finally Election Day, and candidates and voters of color are set to make some important strides in 2022. Voter turnout among Asian Americans — in particular, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese and Indian voters — and Latino voters will be critical in many races from California to Texas. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could help drive more women to the polls. And Black voters have always been important to Democrats, but during this midterm election, they could be more critical than ever. In five U.S. states, voters will decide whether to eliminate language in their state constitutions that allows slavery as punishment in prisons. Here is the About US guide to some important races this year, in which candidates of color could make history: South Texas has long voted for Democrats, but that could change this year. Two Latina candidates of Mexican descent, Democrat Michelle Vallejo and Trump-backed Republican Monica De La Cruz are vying to become the first woman representing the district. Both have leaned into their Latina identity, including campaigning in Spanish. For De La Cruz, that means emphasizing the possibility of a Republican shift in the Rio Grande Valley this year — a sharp break with tradition. The Georgia Senate race is one of the most-watched in the country, with two Black candidates running for the position: incumbent Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.), who won a special election in 2021, and Herschel Walker, who glided through the Republican primary with former president Donald Trump's endorsement. The race marks the most prominent campaign pitting two Black men as the major party nominees, with the Senate majority potentially hanging in the balance. Warnock, the senior pastor at the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church, has leaned into Christian progressivism during his campaign, including support for abortion rights. Walker has invoked his own story of "redemption" to address stories about accusations that he has stalked women, pressured them to have abortions and abused his ex-wife. In Orange County, two Asian American candidates face off: incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Ca.) and Democrat Jay Chen. Both have leaned into their ethnic identities, campaigning in Asian languages and catering to a community that has traditionally voted Democratic but with whom the Republican Party has made modest gains in 2020. In another part of Orange County, Rep. Young Kim (R-Ca) is running against Democrat Asif Mahmood, a physician who has made abortion access a central part of his campaign. Kim flipped the seat red in 2020 and was one of the few Republicans who voted to certify Joe Biden's win in 2021. If elected, Mahmood could become the first member of Congress born in Pakistan, a country that has had a complicated relationship with the United States hinging on the war in Afghanistan. In Pennsylvania, Republican Mehmet Oz, the television star also known as Dr. Oz, would become the first Muslim in the U.S. Senate if he beats Democrat John Fetterman. Join Washington Post reporters for live results and analysis here as voters cast their ballots across the United States on Tuesday.  (Tom Brenner for the Washington Post ) Democrats are hoping to capitalize on the optimism felt by Indian Americans, a growing and increasingly vital bloc of voters. By Toluse Olorunnipa ● Read more » | | |  (Courtesy of Arian Afshar; Samantha Sybo) To figure out how to vote and who to vote for in the midterms, young people are turning to those they can relate to: content creators on social media. By Samantha Chery ● Read more » | | |  (Jenna Schoenefeld for The Washington Post) The race between Democrat Jay Chen and Republican Michelle Steel reveals the nuances of Asian American identities. By Jada Yuan ● Read more » | | |  (Doug Kapustin for The Washington Post) Figures like corporate-marketer-turned-prophet Lance Wallnau have been appearing with candidates all over the country this year, preaching spiritual warfare. By Michelle Boorstein ● Read more » | | |  Democrats in key Senate races have accused their Republican opponents of Willie Horton tactics. Who was Horton, and how did he become equated with dog-whistle politics? By DeNeen L. Brown ● Read more » | | |  (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images) Kotek, who helped make Oregon a progressive bastion, could become one of the country's first openly lesbian governors. In 2022, does that hurt her chances? By Anne Branigin ● Read more » | | |  (Alex Wroblewski for The Washington Post) Ron Johnson has turned up the volume on the issue of race in his closing message to base voters, whose support will be crucial in his tight contest against Mandela Barnes, who would be the state's first Black senator. By Annie Linskey ● Read more » | | |  (Scott McIntyre for The Washington Post) Tuesday will mark the first major election in Florida since the legislature pushed through changes impacting voting in the Sunshine State. By Lori Rozsa ● Read more » | | | |
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