Against the odds: Democrats take the Senate

A sigh of relief for many Americans as Democrats retain majority control of the US senate after winning a crucial race in the state of Nevada

After a long few exasperating months of uncertainty and speculation, we finally know the outcome of who takes control of the senate for the next 2 years. It is the Democrats! Catherine Cortez Masto defeated Republican challenger Adam Laxalt in the race for the senate seat in the state of Nevada. The republican challenger Adam Laxalt curiously was backed by former President Donal Trump, but now the midterm republican flameout is official.

The Senate is the second chamber of the Parliament. It is independent of it and complements the work of the National Assembly. The Senate shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government.

It has been a surprising couple of weeks for the Democrats and the millions of Americans anxiously awaiting results. This is because it was ‘certain’ (according to predictions by news outlets) that there was going to be a “republican red wave”; meaning that it was ‘certain’ that the republicans were going to take the house and senate in their favour and deny any chance of President Biden going through his agenda, which was not the case.

The President and other high-ranking officials commented immediately after their victory. Here is what each of them had to say:

Democratic Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said the results showed that the American people had rejected what he calls the “violent rhetoric” of the Republican party, which in simple terms means bullying and hurting without actually using physical violence, an example of this was when then President Donald Trump tweeted, “We’re going to the Capitol” after this tweet we know what happened; a day that will not be forgotten by many Americans, a dark day where all order had been lost. He (Democratic Senate majority leader) added to this by saying that the country “showed that we believed in our democracy and that the roots are strong, and it will prevail as long as we fight for it.

US President Joe Biden commented from Cambodia where he was attending the G20 summit. He said, “I’m not surprised by the turnout. I’m incredibly pleased, and I think it’s a reflection of the quality of our candidates”.

There is still one seat up for grabs in the senate and that belongs to the state of Georgia, which are going to a run-off election in December. A run-off election is one done when no candidates have reached to have the majority of votes in an election. In the event the run-off results in a tie of 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, vice-president Kamala Harris has the final casting vote giving the majority to the democrats.

What does this mean for the American people and the future? The turnout of these mid-term elections means that Democrats can get any bill to the Senate, and they will be able to pass it. However, they will have a small road bump which is getting the bill or law through the house of representatives which is owned by the Republicans. Not only that but as the Republicans have won the house they will be able to look into the President as there are some questions regarding the President’s son and this is the way they can investigate it.

Om Jay

Sun 13 Nov 2022

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63612410