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    • Republicans gain control of House and Senate, major boost for Trump
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    Republicans gain control of House and Senate, major boost for Trump

    Pabio Posted on

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    WASHINGTON – The Republicans won both the House and the Senategiving the GOP full control over Congress for at least the next two years and creating a friendly path for That of President-elect Donald Trump priorities.

    The GOP will gain a majority in the 435-member House of Representatives after defending enough key seats in New York, California and other swing districts that had seemed more competitive before Election Day than they ultimately were, according to several networks that track the results. The Republicans also took control of the Senate unseating Democratic senators from Montana and Ohio and winning in other closely watched races.

    Their victory sets up a republican trio in Washington for the next two years, laying the groundwork for Trump and the party to implement their priorities without major resistance.

    Democrats were the last party to have full control of the House, Senate and White House in 2021 and 2022. Their trio helped pass election reform like the Electoral count lawin pursuit of Trump’s second impeachment in the House after the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, and for the enactment of a massive financing plan aimed at boosting clean energy production and domestic manufacturing.

    Holding all the levers of power in Washington in 2009 and 2010, then-President Barack Obama also pushed across the finish line the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a major overhaul of the American financial sector and the Affordable Care Act.

    Republicans also won a trio in the first two years of Trump’s first administration, in 2017 and 2018, when he signed dozens of bills into law, including one A $1.5 trillion tax cut.

    In these three examples, unified party control of Washington lasted only two years and ended in the next midterm elections when the Home overturned At opposing party.

    For the next two years, Trump and Congress can expect major political battles on American support for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, whether to renew or change the 2017 tax policies adopted during Trump’s first term, how to finance the government and much more.

    Although the upside is slim for Democrats, full control of the GOP gives the minority party the opportunity to oppose Republican priorities and elevate rising stars within the party. Ultimately, Democrats’ ability to check the power of the Republican Party will be limited. However, Republicans have pledged to protect the filibuster and its 60-vote threshold in the Senate, which gives Democrats the power to block GOP legislation if they are unified.

    The shift in power in Congress next year will be accompanied by the first leadership change among Senate Republicans in nearly two decades. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., won a secret ballot Wednesday and will be the new Senate majority leader in 2025, replacing Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who plans to resign from his position and complete his term until January 2027 as a rank-and-file legislator.

    House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. – who rose to the leadership last year when a small faction of his party voted for ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. — is expected to retain his leadership role when the new GOP conference holds a vote Wednesday afternoon.

    Johnson’s biggest challenge going forward will likely come from his right flank and ultraconservative lawmakers who have at times criticized his willingness to work with Democrats to avoid government shutdowns. Trump dropped his support Johnsoninviting him to speak at Election protests 2024, host it at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and urging House Republicans to support Johnson for president for 2025.

    House Republicans retained their majority in 2024 by defending key districts in New York, California, Virginia and Iowa. Some examples: Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, defeated Democrat Lanon Baccam in the Des Moines metro area and southwest Iowa; Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., defeated former Rep. Mondaire Jones in the Hudson Valley; and Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., won against Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal in southern Virginia.

    The GOP also flipped competitive seats in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Reps. Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild conceded to Republican opponents Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie.

    Pabio
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