Four days after the midterm elections, US media reported Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in the key state of Nevada.
The Democratic Party won the seat it needed to maintain control of the US Senate on Saturday, a decisive victory for the continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency and a crushing failure for his predecessor Donald Trump.
“I feel good and I can’t wait for the next two years,” Biden reacted from Phnom Penh on the sidelines of an Asian summit.
Four days after the midterm elections, US media reported Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in the key state of Nevada. The incumbent narrowly beat Adam Laxalt, a candidate supported by former President Donald Trump, according to American television networks.
His re-election brings the number of Democrats elected to the Senate to 50 out of 100, which allows Joe Biden’s party to retain control of the upper house of Congress. Under the Constitution, Vice President Kamala Harris has the power to decide among senators.
Democrats could still win a seat in the state of Georgia, where a second round will be held on Dec. 6.
Incumbent Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reacted minutes after the results were announced, tweeting that they were a “manifestation” of the things Democrats are doing.
According to him, this means that Americans have “wisely rejected the undemocratic, authoritarian, evil and divisive direction that MAGA Republicans wanted to give our country,” in reference to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
The latter was ubiquitous during the campaign, from the Republican primaries to housewarmings across the country.
The Republican majority in the House of Representatives?
More than 100 Republican candidates contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election have been elected, according to US media projections, but some of Trump’s colts have failed.
Driven by high inflation, Republicans have long believed they have an avenue ahead of them to win back two houses during this traditionally tough election for the ruling party.
Republicans appear capable of regaining a majority in the House of Representatives. They should use it to initiate numerous parliamentary inquiries into the administration of Joe Biden, or those close to him.
However, their victory promises to be much shorter than expected. NBC News predicted a tenuous five-seat majority for Republicans on Saturday morning with 220 elected to 215 for Democrats. However, nearly 20 polls have yet to deliver their verdict, mostly in California.
But without the Senate, they won’t be able to pass laws that run counter to his goals, especially on abortion or climate change, or block his appointments of judges, ambassadors and government officials.
no red wave
Their disappointing results are stirring up a stir among their elected officials in Congress, auguring a possible settling of scores.
In a letter revealed by Politico, several Trumpist senators are asking to postpone the vote to elect their leader in the Senate scheduled for next week, appearing to challenge tenor Mitch McConnell who wants to be reappointed to the position.
“We are all disappointed that a + red + (the color of their party, nldr) wave has not materialized, and there are several reasons for this”, they write, wanting to open a debate on this issue.
The end of Republican illusions for the Senate represents a setback for Donald Trump, who is expected to announce Tuesday that he will run for president, in his third attempt.
The Democrats had already won in Arizona on Friday, where the outgoing Mark Kelly had beaten the Republican Blake Masters, who had received the strong support of the former head of state, and who has not yet acknowledged his defeat.
Stung by this setback in Arizona, adding to other failures of his foals, the Republican billionaire has once again shouted “electoral fraud” by refusing to admit the verdict at the polls, as he has done since his 2020 presidential defeat .
While his influence on the Republican Party remains undeniable, he actually comes out of the midterm weakened and appears to want to act quickly to pull the rug under his rivals.
Among them is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a triumphant re-elect and new star of the far right. His success has not escaped the billionaire, who this week chained spades and taunts against what he nicknamed “Ron-la-Morale”.
And, coincidence or not with the calendar, Tuesday will also be the day of the publication of the memoirs of another possible competitor of Donald Trump, his former vice president Mike Pence.
