Democrats have retained control of the US Senate. what that means for Joe Biden’s presidency

The Democrats secured control of the United States Senate, giving Joe Biden a mid-term boost as he heads into the final two years of his first term as President.

With one seat still in doubt, the Democrats claimed a majority on Sunday when Nevada senator Catherine Cortez Masto was re-elected, defeating Republican challenger Adam Laxalt.

The party now has 50 seats in the 100-seat Senate, with the newly elected Senate to be sworn in on January 3, 2023.

While control of the U.S House of Representatives is still to be decided, and a run-off election will take place to decide who claims one of Georgia’s Senate seats, the Democrats have retained a Senate majority by virtue of Vice-President Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote.

Speaking to reporters after AP declared Ms Cortez Masto as winner of the Nevada Senate seat, Mr Biden said he felt good about the election results.

“I’m looking forward to the next couple of years,” he said.

So, what does a simple senate majority mean for the rest of Mr Biden’s term?

Result to impact judicial appointments

Even though Democrats are unlikely to control the House, a simple majority in the Senate will give the party the ability to approve judges picked by Mr Biden to fill positions on district courts, circuit courts and high courts.

This will be particularly crucial to Democrats if a seat on the US Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority, opens up in the final years of Mr Biden’s term.

When the outgoing U.S Senate returns this week, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aims to immediately confirm two more federal judges, awaiting final votes.

Win gives Democrats more legislative control

House Republicans, if they pull out a victory, have pledged to try to roll back Mr Biden’s victories on battling climate change and want to make permanent a series of 2017 tax cuts that will expire. jyotip@fijisun. com.fj