Democrats Regains Control Over the House of Representative

Guwahati: In the crucial midterm elections The Democrats regains control over the House of Representatives on Wednesday. While United States President Donald Trump’s Republican Party retained its majority in the Senate, an outcome likely to intensify the political bitterness and fighting between the two major parties in the run up to the 2020 presidential poll.

Initial statements coming from the Democratic Party leaders indicated it would make it tough for US President Trump, who wants major legislative changes on some of his signature issues including immigration, tax and healthcare reforms.

By capturing the House of Representatives, the Democrats may exert a major institutional check on Trump and break the Republican monopoly in Washington.

Trump, who had campaigned aggressively in the last several weeks, expressed satisfaction over the results in a tweet and described this as a tremendous success.

“Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” Trump tweeted.

In the House of Representatives, the Democrats gained 24 seats giving them enough for the majority in the 435-membered chamber.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, 78, is expected to be re-elected as Speaker of House of Representatives, which is equivalent to India’s Lok Sabha.

In the outgoing House, the Republicans had 235 seats while the Democrats 193. The new House would come into being next January.

In her victory speech in Washington DC, Pelosi said the party would use its newly won majority to pursue a bipartisan agenda for a country. Pelosi said Americans have all “had enough of division”.

“Thanks to you, tomorrow will be a new day in America,” she said standing alongside other Democratic House leaders.

She said that the election result is about “restoring the system of checks and balances” in Trump administration thus indicating that the new Democratic party would play the role of a strong opponent in for the US President.

Meanwhile, US President Trump called Pelosi on Tuesday night to offer congratulations, her office said.

At least 90 women won their elections, with majority being Democrats. At least 28 of them were elected to the House for the first time. The elections also resulted in Rashida Tlaib becoming the first Muslim woman elected to the House of Representatives along with Somali-American Ilhan Omar.

For the Democrats taking control of the House gives them an opportunity to be more assertive in the Congress and prevent Trump for achieving his legislative agenda. “The Democratic Party is back,” said Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez.

However, the ruling Republican Party retained its majority in the 100-member Senate where it currently has a razor thin majority of 51-49 seats.

The crucial polls, marking the first major voter test of Trump, is seen as a referendum on his controversial policies, including those on immigration.

The Democrats also won some of the high-profile governor’s race including Kansas, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

Also Read: US President Donald Trump not Sure If He will Meet Vladimir Putin