Ava DuVernay, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker, warned that the U.S. midterm elections could pose serious problems no matter who prevails.
"I think either way we're in trouble," DuVernay said at the Airbnb.org Gala last week. "If the Democrats pull it out, you're going to see an outsized reaction from the administration, and if they don't, you're going to see an outsized reaction from the administration."
DuVernay's newest documentary, "14th," has received critical praise and is generating buzz during award season. The film explores the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which created birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law.
"Folks need to really understand what it means to be a citizen, what it means to fight, and to really know your rights," DuVernay added.
With only two days left before Election Day, over 43 million Americans have already voted early in person or sent in mail ballots, The Associated Press reported on Oct. 30. The latest national congressional ballot average still shows Democrats ahead of Republicans by 8.2 percentage points. Democrats hold 51.4 percent of the vote to Republicans' 43.2 percent, according to RealClearPolling. Analysts widely expect Democrats to retake control of the House of Representatives, while the Senate races remain too close to call definitively.
When asked about her next documentary project, DuVernay responded, "There's so much going on. There's no lack of material or things to look at or advocate for, so we all need to keep our eye on the ball and keep pushing forward."
