DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — Martin O’Malley, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former governor of Maryland, said that he feels like a “Blue Wave” could be coming for his party in the November mid-term elections.
Republicans currently hold the majority of seats in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate along with President Donald Trump, a Republican, in the White House.
Mid-term history
Historically, a president’s party frequently loses seats in Congress in the mid-term.
O’Malley, who also served as Social Security Administration Administrator during the Biden administration, believes that Republican-led cuts to the Social Security Administration staff have caused delays in service.
Social Security focus
He thinks voters will prioritize the future of Social Security benefits at a higher level during this year’s election.
Projections also show the trust fund will only have enough money to pay out about 80% of projected benefits in 2032.
O’Malley is calling on Congress to lift the income cap on earnings to provide more funding for future Social Security benefits. Currently, workers don’t pay taxes toward Social Security on their annual wages above $184,500.
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