Republicans keep majority in House of Representatives giving Trump unchecked power in Congress
Republicans will maintain their limited grip on power in the House of Representatives, giving newly elected President Donald Trump and the Republican Party full control of Congress.
The ‘trifecta’ in the US government is contributing to the total destruction of the Democrats in the 2024 elections and has led to an internal civil war over how to proceed.
It opens the door for Republicans to have unchecked power to work with Trump to implement all their policies in his first two years in office.
Republicans officially crossed the 218-seat threshold for a majority in the 435-member chamber more than a week after the election.
It will be the sixth time in ninety years that the party has not controlled a single arm of the federal government.
The stunning cleanup comes days after Trump won the White House over Vice President Kamala Harris and Republicans successfully flipped the Senate with key victories in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana.
It opens the door for Republicans to have unchecked power to push all their policies alongside Trump in his first two years in office
Republicans have maintained control of the House of Representatives since the 2022 midterm elections.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is vying for the gavel he won a year ago after Kevin McCarthy was spectacularly ousted.
218 are needed for a majority in the 435-seat chamber, with three vacancies in Ohio, California and New York that won’t be filled until a 2025 special election.
As Donald Trump celebrated his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on election night, he also touted Republicans’ gains in the Senate as they look to retain control of the House of Representatives.
‘It was great to see all those victories. Nobody expected that. Nobody,” Trump said of Republican victories across the country, citing the red wave that gave Republicans a majority in the Senate.
“You have some great senators and some great new senators,” he said. ‘And it also appears that we will retain control of the House of Representatives.’
The final results of the congressional races are inconclusive, but Speaker Johnson flew to Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday to celebrate with the ex-president.
“I want to thank Mike Johnson. I think he’s doing a great job,” Trump added.
Donald Trump celebrated his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris early Wednesday morning
Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka watch as Republican presidential candidate Trump speaks
“I want to thank Mike Johnson. I think he’s doing a great job,” Trump added
The Republican dominance began in Michigan. A seat held by Democrat Elissa Stlotkin, who won the state Senate seat, was flipped red by Tom Barrett.
Republicans also managed to flip crucial seats in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Republican Addison McDowell took over a Democrat’s seat in North Carolina’s 6th District and Tim Moore won in Gastonia.
The Democrats, on the other hand, had more success against the incumbent Republicans in New York.
Republican Chairman Mike Johnson declared victory on Election Day, saying, “We saved America.”
“The American people have spoken and President Trump and Senator JD Vance are heading to the White House. We are ready to get to work for the American people,” his statement on X read.
Still, key races in New York and California are being closely watched in the Republican bid to increase their party’s grip on power in the House of Representatives.
But in the end, the Republican Party was able to stave off many Democratic challenges from coast to coast.
Conservatives now fully control the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government during Trump’s first years in office, giving him sweeping control.
A Republican supermajority could approve an extension of Trump’s tax cuts passed during his first term.
They could also try to pass legislation to make Trump’s tariff proposals a reality.
Republicans could also take stronger action on transgender issues involving schools and sports, which Trump and the Republican Party have often discussed on the campaign trails.
Already under control of the Senate, Republicans will be able to dictate the approval of federal judges and Cabinet positions such as secretary of state and secretary of defense.
If a vacancy arises at the Supreme Court, the Senate will also deal with it.
During Trump’s last presidency, the Senate was controlled by the Republican Party, and the former president was able to help appoint three of the Court’s nine sitting justices — which has had a major impact on the body’s ideological bent.
The Republicans will retain control of the House of Representatives
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has led the Republican Party for more than a year after the party tumultuously ousted its longtime leader, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Johnson has since experienced multiple coup attempts of his own, along with several budget crises and negotiations with a White House he has repeatedly criticized
The dramatic outcome for Republicans will force Democrats to rethink their strategy after believing they could turn the House blue.
Previously, leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries seemed optimistic that they had the message needed to turn voters away from Republicans.
The newly elected members of Congress will be officially sworn in during ceremonies in Washington in January 2025.
Because the majority in the Senate had already been strengthened, the Senate held leadership elections on Wednesday.
John Thune emerged as the winner who will usher in Donald Trump’s ambitious Republican majority in Congress after a private vote.
Thune, 63, will replace outgoing Kentucky leader Mitch McConnell after the 82-year-old announced he would step down from the leadership role.
He successfully fended off a left-wing challenge from Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who had the support of Trump’s trusted adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, and other MAGA believers.
Thune and Trump have had a complicated relationship over the years, and many in the president-elect’s inner circle did not want him to be in charge of the MAGA agenda
Thune and Trump have had a complicated relationship over the years, and many in the president-elect’s inner circle did not want him to lead the MAGA agenda.
He called on Trump to quit the 2016 presidential race after the infamous Access Hollywood tape was leaked and was critical of his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
But in recent months, Thune has made his support for Trump known, including being one of the first to endorse him during the primaries. The two have a better relationship and reportedly spoke after his win on Wednesday.
Their communications will be critical as Thune will be tasked with shepherding all of Trump’s Cabinet picks through the Senate confirmation process.