Democrats retain control of Senate
THE Democrats have kept control of the United States Senate for two more years, dashing Republican hopes of a wave sweeping them into majority.
The fate of the House of Representatives was still uncertain yesterday, as the Republicans struggled to pull together a slim majority there.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in Nevada gave Democrats the 50 seats they needed to keep the Senate. Her win reflects the surprising strength of Democrats across the country. Seeking re-election in an economically challenged state that has some of the highest fuel prices in the nation, Ms Cortez Masto was considered the Senate’s most vulnerable member, adding to the frustration of Republicans who were confident she could be defeated.
With the results in Nevada now decided, Georgia is the only state where both parties are still competing for a Senate seat. Democratic incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock faces Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a December 6 run-off.
Alaska’s Senate race has advanced to ranked choice voting, though the seat will stay in Republican hands.
Democratic control of the Senate ensures a smoother process for President Joe Biden’s Cabinet appointments and judicial picks, including those for potential Supreme Court openings. The Democrats will also keep control over committees and have the power to conduct oversight of the Biden administration, and will be able to reject legislation sent over by the House if the Republicans win that chamber.
If the Democrats manage to pull off a win in the House, it would mean full control of Congress for the party – and another chance to advance Mr Biden’s priorities, which he has said include codifying abortion rights.
The Democrats still lack the 60 votes in the Senate needed to move many kinds of major legislative changes. The Senate fight had hinged on a handful of deeply contested seats. Both parties spent tens of millions of dollars in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, the top battlegrounds where the Democrats had hoped that the Republicans’ decision to nominate untested candidates – many backed by former President Donald Trump – would help them defy national headwinds.
Mr Trump plans to announce a third run for the presidency tomorrow.