The midterm congressional elections are coming Nov. 8, but — with one exception — don’t expect too much heavy campaigning in Louisiana. Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, the state’s junior senator, has two opponents so far, but the state’s U.S. House members are expected to have easy roads to re-election.

Democrat Luke Mixon, 42, a veteran fighter pilot, opened his campaign by calling Kennedy “a threat to democracy” for sowing doubt about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Mixon said the position taken by Kennedy and the Jan. 6, 2021, siege on the U.S. Capitol motivated him to enter the race.

Mixon also targeted Kennedy for voting against the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act aimed at upgrading highways and bridges, improving ports, rescuing failing water systems and expanding access to high-speed internet.

A Bunkie native, Mixon graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 and was deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. He earned three Air Medals during that time and was recognized as the F/A-18 Attack Aviator of the Year.

Calling himself a moderate Democrat, Mixon said his ideology most clearly aligns with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who he said, “does a fantastic job of always putting the people of Louisiana over his political party and his politics.”

Democrat Gary Chambers, a longtime community activist, is the other Kennedy opponent. He opened his campaign smoking marijuana to advocate legalizing the drug. Another ad spot titled “Scars and Bars,” shows Chambers burning a Confederate flag while discussing —and symbolically destroying — the legacy of Jim Crow.

Chambers attacked redistricting, which was under way at the state Capitol, saying the right of Black Americans to vote and participate in democracy is under attack.

Obviously, we can expect some heated times in the U.S. Senate contest in which Kennedy is favored. He has over $11 million still in his campaign account while his opponents don’t come close.

Republicans are also in good shape in other races. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy was re-elected in 2020 with 59 percent of the vote in the primary. Four House Republicans were also easily re-elected in the primary.

Rep. Steve Scalise of the 1^st Congressional District won with 72 percent of the vote. Rep. Clay Higgins of the 3^rd District won with 68 percent; Rep. Mike Johnson of the 4^th District won with

60 percent; and Rep. Garret Graves of the 6^th District won with 71 percent.

The late Republican Luke Letlow of the 5^th District won the runoff with 62 percent of the vote. However, Letlow died from COVID complications before he could take office. His wife, GOP Rep. Julia Letlow, won a special election to replace her husband with 65 percent of the vote.

Democrat Cedric Richmond of the 2^nd District won the primary with 64 percent of the vote. Richmond resigned to take a senior level job with President Joe Biden, and Democrat Troy A. Carter won the runoff special election with 55 percent of the vote.

Winners of special elections are usually re-elected the next time they run for the office.

We can expect some major issues to surface in the U.S. Senate race and Republican and Democratic leaders are coming up with some ideas. The Associated Press reported on what campaign issues can be expected.

Look for Democratic President Joe Biden to be hammered by Republicans over record inflation, the inability of the administration to control the nation’s southern border, his efforts to stifle energy production, and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks about culture war issues, like mask mandates and social justice instruction.

Republicans “are standing up for science, for common sense and for the children’s best interests.” Remembering school board protests, McConnell said, “The party of parents has your back. Two years of needless school closures and unscientific forced child masking are two years too many.”

 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said his party will focus on pushing “solutions that will lower costs and leave money in people’s pockets.” He said Democrats  are considering legislation to reduce costs for child care, food, prescription drugs and semiconductors, the vital computer part now facing supply chain shortages.

Schumer said the GOP complaining about inflation doesn’t make inflation better and proposing solutions does.  One proposal would suspend the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax, but they haven’t reached general agreement on that issue.

Whatever else they come up with, Democrats have to realize they face some tough odds this year. However, they do have some strong states in their corner.