Republicans won a majority in the Senate, flipping after four years of Democratic control.
This was predicted results Given how weak Democrats were this cycle: While they were defending nine battleground seats, Republicans were only defending three. The GOP successfully flipped key states including West Virginia and Ohio while facing unexpectedly competitive challenges in places like Nebraska and Texas.
The Republican victory comes as former President Donald Trump leads in the polls, with multiple swing states still outstanding. As of 2 a.m. ET, no candidates had been called for the presidential race, though Early results seem to suggest an advantage for TrumpVice President Kamala Harris’ plausible path to victory is narrowing.
In their campaigns, Republican Senate candidates have leaned heavily on criticism of Democrats’ economic policies as many voters continue to struggle with inflation and the high cost of living. They also continued to play scaremongering on immigration, arguing that only they could provide a solution to an increase in border crossings as early as 2023. Overall, because they were not in control of the Senate, Republican candidates were able to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment — and current discontent — as they campaigned to take back certain seats.
Republican gains could have big implications for a potential Trump or Harris administration. If Trump wins, the Republican Senate will effectively offer him a blank check on the appointment and allow him to resume court stacking with his judges. Depending on the outcome of the House race, a GOP Senate could potentially enable the Trump administration to pursue policy priorities such as Affordable Care Act (ACA) and renewing corporate tax cuts. If Harris wins, the Senate could block key judicial appointments and block his legislative goals.
What Republican Senate control could mean
What role the Senate will play in the next few years will depend on who wins the presidency.
The end of Trump’s presidency was ultimately a depiction of what happens when both the White House and the Senate are in Republican hands.
In that situation, Trump was able to rapidly move his judges, remaking the Circuit Court and Supreme Court with conservative picks. total, Trump was able to confirm 234 judgesincluding three who now sit on the Supreme Court who proved integral to the reversal Roe v. Wade.
Likewise, Trump has faced little backlash or accountability for his rhetoric or policy decisions throughout his tenure, including implementation efforts. A Muslim travel ban Or as leverage for funding for a government shutdown US-Mexico border wall. While some Republican senators have spoken out, few have actually opposed Trump or scrutinized his actions. When Trump was impeached for inciting the uprising on January 6, for example, only seven Republicans voted to convict him — the rest voted to acquit him.
If Republicans retain control of the House, a GOP Congress could also help Trump advance his legislative agenda.
Trump has focused more on executive actions (such as tariffs, immigration, and international relations) than on the congressional agenda he wants to take. However, Republicans have long expressed interest in blocking access to the ACA. One issue lawmakers will consider in the coming year is the expiration of ACA premium subsidies. Stat report. House Speaker Mike Johnson has already emphasized that he is the main “reformation“Also on the health care bill.
D Tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2017 Also up for renewal, and will be another issue lawmakers will have to deal with in the next Congress. Trump suggested cutting Also cut corporate tax rates and some income taxes. Regardless of whether they pass in the House, Senate Republicans will likely advocate for those cuts. And Republicans could push, too, for Extended oil and gas drilling leases That Democrats had previously blocked.
Senate Republicans have already indicated that they plan to be as obstructive as possible when dealing with the Harris administration.
Notably, both Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and John Cornyn (R-TX), two potential successors to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, told CNN that they are not sure whether they will vote for Harris’ potential Supreme Court nominees. With the majority, the GOP could try to block any of Harris’ judicial appointments from moving forward, as they once did with former President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland and some of his lower court picks. In Garland’s case, the GOP successfully refused to ever hold a confirmation hearing or vote for him — and was able to block him from taking the bench.
They can do the same for other cabinet roles, and they can block legislation from moving forward. Harris campaigned extensively to work to enact policies that required congressional approval, including sweeping immigration And Abortion reform. These policy goals are unlikely to materialize in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Whether Trump or Harris end up in the White House, the upper chamber is expected to play a key role in advancing or hindering their efforts.
