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November 6 Capitol Pulse Results: Congress Backs an Election Day Holiday, Predicts Democratic Wins in Michigan and Ohio, and Wants Teams to Share Stadium Costs
Election Day has passed, but the full picture of the midterm elections is still taking shape as votes are counted and closely contested races await final results. As Washington watches the balance of power come into focus, this week’s Capitol Pulse results offer a snapshot of congressional views on election access, two closely watched Senate races, public funding for sports stadiums, and Major League Baseball’s labor rules. Congress strongly supports making Election Day a national holiday, predicts Democratic victories in the Michigan and Ohio Senate contests, and says professional sports teams should help pay for publicly funded stadiums.
Congress overwhelmingly supports making Election Day a national holiday
- Yes
- No
View data table
| Group | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 82.61% | 17.39% |
| Democrats | 97.92% | 2.08% |
| Republicans | 67.31% | 32.69% |
More than four in five respondents (82.61%) support making Election Day a national holiday, while 17.39% oppose the idea.
Support crosses party lines, though it is especially strong among Democrats. Nearly all Democratic respondents ( 97.92% ) support the proposal, compared with 67.31% of Republicans .
The results show broad congressional support for making it easier for Americans to participate in elections by giving Election Day the status of a federal holiday.
Congress predicts a Democratic win in Michigan’s Senate race
- Abdul El Sayed
- Mike Rogers
View data table
| Group | Abdul El Sayed | Mike Rogers |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 61.11% | 38.89% |
| Democrats | 100.00% | 0.00% |
| Republicans | 22.22% | 77.78% |
Asked who they expect to win Michigan’s Senate race, 61.11% predict Abdul El Sayed will prevail , compared with 38.89% who pick Mike Rogers .
The responses break sharply along party lines. Every Democratic respondent predicts an El Sayed victory. Among Republicans, 77.78% expect Rogers to win , while 22.22% predict an El Sayed victory.
The overall result points to a Democratic advantage in Congress’s forecast, even as the party breakdowns show sharply different expectations.
Congress also predicts Sherrod Brown will win in Ohio
- Sherrod Brown
- Jon Husted
View data table
| Group | Sherrod Brown | Jon Husted |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 67.42% | 32.58% |
| Democrats | 93.94% | 6.06% |
| Republicans | 40.91% | 59.09% |
Congressional respondents give Sherrod Brown the edge in Ohio’s Senate contest , with 67.42% predicting a Brown victory and 32.58% expecting Jon Husted to win.
Democrats are strongly behind Brown: 93.94% predict he will win. Republican respondents lean toward Husted, with 59.09% picking him and 40.91% predicting a Brown victory.
As in Michigan, the overall forecast favors the Democratic candidate, while the partisan breakdown reveals a clear divide in expectations.
Congress wants sports teams to share the cost of publicly funded stadiums
- Yes
- Only if teams share the cost
- No
View data table
| Group | Yes | Only if teams share the cost | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 11.68% | 41.89% | 46.44% |
| Democrats | 3.85% | 42.31% | 53.85% |
| Republicans | 19.51% | 41.46% | 39.02% |
Congress is skeptical of public funding for sports stadiums without conditions. Nearly half of respondents (46.44%) oppose public funding outright. Another 41.89% would support it only if teams share the cost , while just 11.68% support public funding without that requirement .
The party breakdowns show some differences in where respondents draw the line. Among Democrats, 53.85% oppose public funding outright , while 42.31% support it only if teams contribute and just 3.85% back unconditional public funding . Republicans are more open to funding without conditions: 19.51% support it outright , while 41.46% say teams should share the cost.
The largest share of respondents rejects public funding altogether, but the results also point to a common condition among those open to it: professional teams should put some money on the table.
Congress is split on an MLB salary cap
- Yes
- Don’t care
- No
View data table
| Group | Yes | Don’t care | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 41.46% | 36.25% | 22.29% |
| Democrats | 26.67% | 43.33% | 30.00% |
| Republicans | 56.25% | 29.17% | 14.58% |
On whether Major League Baseball should adopt a salary cap, Congress is divided. Overall, 41.46% support a cap , 22.29% oppose one, and 36.25% say they don’t care .
Republicans are more supportive, with 56.25% backing a salary cap . Democratic respondents are less enthusiastic: 26.67% support one, 30% oppose one, and the largest group, 43.33%, say they don’t care .
The results suggest that while salary caps have more support than opposition overall, the issue has yet to generate much urgency among a sizable share of respondents.
Across this week’s questions, Congress shows strong support for an Election Day holiday and a preference for Democratic candidates in two Senate race forecasts. On stadium funding, respondents are more reluctant to put public money toward facilities unless teams share the cost. And when it comes to baseball’s salary-cap debate, a substantial share of Congress is still sitting on the sidelines.