In the US Congressional elections, President Joe Biden’s Democrats defended their majority in the Senate. This will give them at least 50 seats in the House of Congress, which would correspond to the previous constellation. A December 6 runoff for Georgia’s last remaining seat could even see it emerge stronger from the midterm Senate election.
In any case, the result in the Senate is a victory for Democrats in the midterm elections, in which polls predicted clear majorities for Republicans – known as the “red wave” because of the party’s color.
Continued control of the House should now make it easier for Democrats to fill vacant positions at the federal level with their nominees. Biden’s nominations for dozens of seats must be confirmed by the Senate. If even one Supreme Court seat becomes vacant in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in 2024, the Democrats could at least hold a Conservative majority from the current 6 to 3 seats.
It was unclear on Monday when the result from the Chamber of Deputies would be available. It could take days before a final result is achieved, he said. Experts continue to expect Republicans to win a narrow majority of the 435 seats. The House of Representatives has significant influence over budget issues. In addition, Republicans can block Democrats’ bills there, which in the United States must pass identically by both houses. They could create investigative committees and put pressure on Democrats. It would also be possible to start an impeachment process against Biden, although it is likely to fail in the Senate. According to a May poll by the University of Massachusetts, more than two-thirds of Republicans support such a measure.
In Georgia’s last remaining Senate vote, Herschel Walker is a Republican on the ballot who received support from former President Donald Trump. If a Democrat, Raphael Warnock, prevails here as well, internal party criticism of the former president will continue to intensify. Many Republicans already complain that the former president is a leg block that needs to be eliminated quickly.
Kyiv breathes a sigh of relief
Trump announced a significant statement ahead of the latest Senate results for Tuesday. It was speculated that he might announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.
The outcome of the US elections also has a direct impact on the war in Ukraine: if the Republicans dominated the House of Representatives and the Senate, there would be a risk that aid to Ukraine would have to be reduced. Well-known members of the “Grand Old Party”, such as minority leader Kevin McCarthy in the House of Representatives, spoke out against “blank checks” for Ukraine. But the power of Trump’s admirers is now too small for them to influence. US foreign policy guidelines will continue to be determined by President Joe Biden, who can likely count on sufficient support for more help in Congress.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that deliveries of weapons, humanitarian and economic aid will continue “as long as necessary”. For the politically ill head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, this means that the US will continue to support Ukraine with money and weapons. That could finally decide the war. (red.)