Overview

• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made economic achievements and a tougher stance on China central to his campaign for Senate candidates ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.
• Vice President Sara Duterte, facing a July impeachment trial, is pushing her own Senate slate to secure allies who could block her conviction.
• Control of the Senate is pivotal, as the chamber will act as the jury in Duterte’s impeachment trial, which stems from corruption charges and alleged death threats against Marcos.
• China’s actions in the South China Sea have become a key election issue, with Marcos contrasting his assertive approach with the conciliatory policies of the previous Duterte administration.
• The election occurs in a climate of widespread disinformation and allegations of Chinese state-sponsored influence operations, with up to 45% of election-related social media discussions driven by fake accounts.