This Election Day could determine not only control of Congress but also the future of President Biden’s agenda.
All 435 House seats are being contested, along with one-third of the Senate. The landscape of the federal government will shift radically if Republicans gain control of the House, and possibly the Senate, while Democrats remain in the White House.
Republicans are certainly hoping for a “red tsunami,” and recent polling shows strong momentum for the GOP.
“It’s pretty clear that Republicans have the wind in their back,” said Jim Manley, a former aide to late Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “I thought a few weeks ago that we could keep the losses in the House in single digits. That’s no longer the case. And my big fear is what is going on with the Senate races.”
Brandon Buck, former aide to the past two Republican speakers of the House, said, “I do think that this will end up being a period of government that is defined by conflict … They’re going to make very clear that there’s a new sheriff in town.”
Democrats currently hold a 220-212 majority in the House, with three vacancies. Republicans are expected to capture anywhere from 25 to 40 seats, securing a strong majority. A Republican House majority would have the power to challenge many aspects of President Biden’s agenda.
“The first thing you’ll see is a bill to control the border,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is likely to become the next speaker, told CNN. “You’ve got to get control over the border. You’ve had almost 2 million people just this year alone coming across.”
McCarthy also said he would not use impeachment as a political weapon, as many Republicans believe the Democrats did during their impeachment of former President Donald Trump.
“We will never use impeachment for political purposes,” McCarthy said. “That doesn’t mean if something rises to the occasion, it would not be used at any other time.”
While speculators like Manley and Buck believe that Republicans will take a majority in the House, polling has shown that control of the Senate could go to either party. Of the 35 seats up for election on Tuesday, 21 are currently held by Republicans, and 14 are held by Democrats.
The battle for the Senate is being fought in four key states — Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said he is “optimistic” about these races.
“The energy on our side is unbelievable,” he told Fox News. “I’ve been traveling all around the country, whether it’s Don Bolduc up in New Hampshire, or Oz, Herschel Walker. We’ve got big turnouts all across the country.
“If you look at early voting, we’re headed in the right direction,” he added.
