The Republican Party has gained total control of the United States government after victories in a handful of tight electoral races were projected for the party on Wednesday (13).
The Republicans had their majority in the Senate confirmed earlier this week, while Donald Trump won the race for the presidency.
This triumph, last achieved at the beginning of Trump’s first term in 2017, will give the president-elect significant authority to enact his agenda on the economy, immigration, and other important issues.
On the other hand, it also leaves the Democrats with less influence to challenge policies they disagree with, although narrow margins mean Senate Republicans may still struggle to secure enough votes for some actions.
The House Republicans will have at least 218 seats, and the House Democrats will have at least 208 seats when a new Congress term begins in January. A majority is achieved when a party wins 218 of the 435 available seats. The final number of Republican seats is likely to be between 220 and 222. So, how large the Republican majority in the House of Representatives will be remains to be seen.
In the Senate, which has 100 seats, Republicans will control 53 seats, while Democrats and independents aligned with Democrats will hold 47 seats.
Since being elected, Trump has appointed several House members to positions in his administration, including Michael Waltz from Florida, who was named national security advisor, and Elise Stefanik from New York, who will serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Removing them from the House means their seats will be vacant until special elections are called to replace them.
The president-elect has promised radical changes in his first 100 days in office, including the start of mass deportations of illegal immigrants in the U.S., the pardoning of some individuals who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the reversal of environmental policies implemented by the Biden-Harris administration.
With the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for 2026, Trump will enjoy at least two years of limited Congressional oversight.
Source: BBC