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Salon
Democrats hold Senate majority — and the House is still in play
- Article •
- 10/13/2022
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Dems Hold Senate, House Still Unclear
Check in on key updates following the 2022 midterm elections.
NBC NewsDemocrats Retain Control
Battle for the Majority. Last Wednesday, in our breakdown of the midterm elections, we covered three key Senate races that could determine which party took the majority in the chamber — Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. All three have Democratic incumbents, and either party needed to win at least two of the three to take control of the Senate. While Georgia headed to a runoff, the other two states seemed poised to give a split decision, with a Democrat leading in Arizona and a Republican leading in Nevada. Under that scenario, the Senate’s fate would rest once again in Georgia, undecided for weeks.
CNN
Southwest Shift. Since our initial coverage, observers have called both southwestern states for Mark Kelly and Catherine Cortez Masto, their respective incumbent Democratic Senators. These calls leave the Senate in Democratic hands, as they hold at least 50 seats in the chamber and have Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker. Should Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) beat his opponent Herschel Walker (R) in the runoff next month, Democrats will expand that majority.
CNBC
Senate Leadership Debate. Republicans’ disappointing showing across battleground Senate races has left Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the hot seat with some members of his caucus. Some conservative Senators are calling on the GOP to delay its leadership vote in the chamber — slated for next week — where Republican senators would vote on powerful positions within their party. Former President Donald Trump has even weighed in, slamming McConnell amid the growing discontent. The two often took opposing sides in Republican primaries throughout this election cycle, and many Trump-backed candidates in battleground Senate races have criticized McConnell for slashing spending on advertising in their states.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), who headed Republicans’ Committee responsible for retaking the Senate majority, has similarly attacked McConnell and refused to rule out a run for the leadership spot. Trump has backed Scott for the position amid the infighting. Still, such a move seems unlikely, and analysts say the Kentucky Republican probably has the votes locked up to remain the caucus’ leader.
The Hill
Implications. While Republicans are favored to retake the House majority — a scenario that would likely halt the Biden administration’s legislative agenda — Democrats retaining control of the Senate does have significant implications for the President’s priorities. The upper chamber approves many of his nominations for key roles — including for all federal judicial positions. The administration has faced little delay in confirmations for these nominees over the past two years, and continued control means that they will likely continue approving them with ease. Such a majority will have special importance should an unexpected vacancy on the Supreme Court.
House’s Fate Unknown
A Few Races Left. Last week, we also highlighted the battle for control of the House of Representatives, saying that Republicans were likely to regain a narrow majority. While Republicans are still favored to retake control, Democrats have a small but possible path to holding onto the chamber. Just a week ago, the prospect seemed unthinkable, but Democrats have performed better than expected in several key races, leaving them in striking range.
New York Post
The Path to a Majority. The Associated Press has currently called 212 seats for Republicans and 204 for Democrats. To reach the 218-seat target for the majority, the GOP only has to win seven of the 20 outstanding races, while Democrats need to take 14. Republicans are currently likely to win five seats and need to pick up only two of six neck-and-neck seats. Democrats’ most likely path under such a scenario requires them to seal the deal in the nine uncalled races where they currently hold a steady lead and clinch five of the battleground seats. Some of these contests’ margins may be so close that they trigger mandatory recounts, possibly leaving control of the House unclear for weeks.
Left Narrative
Despite historic headwinds, Democrats have overcome the odds to retain — and potentially expand — their control of the Senate. In the face of a predicted “red wave,” Democrats could also still keep a majority in the House. This election was a referendum on Republican extremism, and the American people have resoundingly rejected them. From their dangerous abortion stances to election denialism, the voters sent a clear message — they do not trust Republicans to hold power. Until the GOP reverses course, the American people must entrust Democrats to continue leading us forward.
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AP Government & PoliticsSlides
Open in Google SlidesDiscussion Questions
- What do you think will change if Democrats expand their majority to 51 seats in the Senate?
- Why do you think some Republican Senators have called for a delay in the leadership vote? Is such a delay appropriate?
- Who deserves blame for Republicans’ underperformance in the Senate campaigns?
- Do you think the Republican infighting could impact the Georgia runoff next month? If so, how?
- How do you think Democrats overperformed in the House?