For communities on both sides of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the U.S. midterm elections are about more than who controls Congress. With tariffs, strained trade relations and tensions between longtime neighbours continuing to weigh on cross-border ties, many are watching to see whether the results could signal a change in direction. In Victoria, Democrats Abroad members are gathering for an election night watch party, hoping to see Republicans lose control of Congress. The group represents about 1,200 Democrats living in the region, including the Gulf Islands and communities south of Duncan. For Bob Broughton, who handles the group’s social media and represents Democrats Abroad Victoria on the organization’s Canadian board, the stakes extend well beyond American politics. “We’re hoping to get control of both houses of Congress, and I think that’s very much achievable,” Broughton said. He believes the current political climate in Washington poses a serious concern for Canada’s sovereignty and its relationship with its closest neighbour. “They represent an existential threat to Canada. And basically, we have a situation in Washington that is just out of control,” he said. The group has seen so much interest in its election night gathering that organizers had to cap attendance at 35 people. Among the evening’s activities is a tongue-in-cheek election bingo card featuring potential claims of voter fraud and election interference, including non-citizen voters and hacked voting machines. The gathering comes as U.S. President Donald Trump faces a major electoral test midway through his four-year term. Trump is not on the ballot, but the outcome could significantly affect his ability to advance his agenda. A shift in control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate would give Democrats greater power to scrutinize the administration and challenge its policies. Trump has also made his own appeal to voters, promising $5,000 to every adult American citizen if Republicans win both chambers of Congress. Polling heading into election day suggests Democrats are favoured to take the House, while the Senate remains more difficult to predict. Political analyst Michael Fauntroy says the election reflects how voters feel about the current administration. “In many cases, voters have already made up their mind about President Trump and are governing themselves accordingly,” Fauntroy said. Whether a Democratic victory would translate into a warmer relationship with Canada is another question. Across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter hopes a change in the balance of power in Washington will help put the relationship back on track. Dexter says she wants to see more checks and balances on the federal administration, particularly when it comes to trade policy and the treatment of Canada. “I don’t expect anything immediate, but I hope that it will help us backtrack on some of the certainly budget bills that have passed and put some guardrails on the president, and push back on tariffs in particular,” Dexter said. “I mean, certainly that’s been really problematic and just how rude we’ve been to you all as our neighbours.” Dexter says the strained relationship has been felt locally, particularly in a community where connections with Vancouver Island have long been part of everyday life. Port Angeles continues to see relatively strong tourism numbers, but Dexter says fewer Canadians are making the trip than in previous years. She says the community misses the cross-border camaraderie and hopes Canadians will eventually feel comfortable returning. “We all feel like you’re still our friendly neighbours, neighbours to the north. And we look forward to welcoming you back when you’re ready to come back,” she said. Dexter acknowledges that even a significant shift in Congress would not immediately undo the damage to Canada-U.S. relations. But she hopes the election will send a message to Canadians that the current political climate in Washington does not necessarily reflect the views of most Americans. “That we’re not okay with a lot of things, not the least of which is how Canada has been treated by our federal government,” Dexter said. With files from CTV News’ Anna McMillan
