This ongoing column will be a series of horary astrology forecasts for several key US Congressional
campaigns leading up to the 2022 midterm elections in November. I'm using Politico's predictive
website run by Steve Shepard to identify those incumbents who may be most vulnerable to upset. In
each article I will cover either a current House of Representatives member or a sitting Senator who is
up for re-election. I'm applying John Halloran's AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter chart-creation program,
with the Regiomontanus house system and John Frawley's methodology. Frawley notes in The Horary
Textbook that “The Moon is of extreme importance in horaries about elections. It is natural ruler of the
people, and so signifies the electorate.” The Moon is also “co-significator” of the Querent when it
doesn't already rule the house of the question (known as the “Quesited”), so it has something more to
say about the Querent's status in the matter. Consequently, in addition to judging the strength or
weakness of the house ruler for the Querent, I will also check the condition of the Moon and any
aspects between the two. As always in horary work, the chart is cast for the exact moment that I
understand the specifics of the question, and for my own geographic location.
In open elections where the office is vacant, the First House and its ruler typically represent the
Querent as the candidate about whom the inquiry is being made. But when there is an incumbent who
already “wears the crown,” the 10 th House becomes the domain of the “king” and the health of its ruling
planet serves as the harbinger of winning or losing. Therefore, the 10 th House and its ruler (or “Lord”)
will be the main focus in these predictions.
The Quesited is “Will the Querent keep the job?” Interestingly, this is also a 10 th House matter and the
incumbent (Querent) already occupies the 10 th House. Since US elections are largely popularity
contests, we might say that “the person is the job.” In such horaries, any prominence of fixity in the
chart (the angles – Ascendant and Midheaven – or their ruling planets located in Fixed signs) suggests
that there will be no change. A “Void of Course” Moon (making no major aspects before leaving its
present sign) is also “testimony of the status quo being preserved.”
Because it's close to home (I'm from New Hampshire) I will look at Democrat Maggie Hassan's Senate
race first. She has been targeted by Republican strategists for defeat but their best hope for that
outcome faded when popular New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (a Republican) decided not to
run against her.
Aries is on the 10th House cusp, and its ruling planet Mars is also in Aries. Mars is not only dignified in its own sign, it is both applying to imminent conjunction with the Midheaven (Frawley says “significator entering the 10th is positive”) and the most elevated planet in the chart, increasing its potency. Mars is also very closely conjunct (within two minutes of arc) the “Greater Benefic,” Jupiter, and makes no other prominent aspects. These facts alone offer one of the most compelling displays of dominance that I could possibly imagine. However, although this situation makes Mars stronger, Frawley cautions that “when a significator is entering its mundane house” (as it is here) “it can often be taken literally, showing the candidate going home. In many situations this will be testimony of defeat.” But if I were a betting man I don’t think I would wager against Hassan’s chances for success. Another telling point is that all of the planets are above the horizon, implying that she has the public’s attention and will make the most of it.
For its part, the Moon in the 11th House is very well placed in Taurus, the sign of its exaltation; it is presently Void of Course and is located in a Fixed sign, both of which assert that Hassan isn’t going anywhere this time around. The Moon also rules the Cancer Ascendant, giving the impression that she is seen by the public as comfortably situated and unlikely to be easily dislodged; the Part of Fortune in Cancer reinforces this assumption. The Moon is conjunct Mercury but is separating, so Hassan will perhaps downplay political rhetoric for a more low-key, folksy posture to exhibit her “empathy;” Mercury retrograde supports the idea of “turning away.” However, it’s notable that the Moon forms a “translation of light” configuration between Mercury in Taurus and the Sun in Mercury’s sign of Gemini. If I had to guess, I’d say the rhetoric will snap back into focus when the Moon progresses out of Taurus and conjuncts the Sun, carrying the polemics forward to a future opportunity for debate when the spotlights are turned on her. The square of the Moon to Saturn shows that there is uncompromising iron under that friendly exterior, while the sextile to Neptune in Pisces conveys the idea that she isn’t above some “fancy footwork” if and when the situation calls for it. (Frawley mentions that the outer planets aren’t used for much in horary, and that Neptune relates mainly to illusion and deceit.) “Slippery” Neptune trine the Cancer Ascendant and sextile “tricky” Mercury might make it tempting. Pluto rules large-scale (even “seismic”) social trends (which may be shaping up to the detriment of many incumbent Democrtas), but here it is trine the Moon and Mercury and will most likely behave itself on Hassan’s behalf.
There are no mutual receptions in this chart and no sole dispositor since three of the planets are positioned in their own sign: Venus in Taurus; Mars in Aries and Saturn in Aquarius. (Recognize that in traditional horary astrology the outer planets do not rule or have dignity in any sign.) Worth mentioning is that Venus does disposit the Moon, Mercury and Uranus, mellowing the clinical pragmatism of Hassan’s political statecraft.
On a final note, Frawley recommends calculating the Arabian “Part of Resignation and Dismissal” for “Will I keep my job?” questions: the formula is Saturn + Jupiter – Sun. Here the Part appears at 20º of Sagittarius. Its dispositor is Jupiter, very well-favored in Aries, and it receives no adverse aspects from any planets, so the possibility of Hassan being “run out of town” seems vanishingly remote.
Full disclosure: I didn’t vote for Hassan last time and don’t suppose I will next time either, but this chart shows the odds of winning another Senate term to be overwhelmingly in her favor. Short of Sununu, the Republicans have nobody even close.
