November 14th 2024.
The recent U.S. House and Senate elections have resulted in a Republican majority, completing the party's takeover of the federal government alongside President-elect Donald Trump. With the GOP securing 218 House victories and gaining control of the Senate, Republican leaders are now envisioning a mandate to implement Trump's vision for the country and make sweeping changes to the federal government.
Trump, who has promised to carry out the largest-ever deportation operation, extend tax breaks, and punish his political enemies, now has a Congress that is fully onboard with his agenda. With the GOP in control of both chambers, Democrats will have little power to check his plans. This is a stark contrast from Trump's first term, when he faced resistance from Republican leaders and a liberal majority in the Supreme Court.
As he returns to Washington for the first time since the election, Trump is met with a Republican Party that has been transformed by his "Make America Great Again" movement. He also now has a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices, including three that he personally appointed. At a rally with House Republicans, Trump joked about potentially running for a third term if they wanted him to, highlighting the strong relationship between the president and his party.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been nominated to stay on as speaker next year, has talked about taking a "blowtorch" to the federal government and its programs. He and other Republican leaders are eager to implement Trump's "America First" agenda, which includes overhauling popular programs championed by Democrats in recent years. They have an ambitious 100-day plan that they hope to put into action.
Trump's allies in the House are also seeking retribution for the legal troubles he faced while out of office. He has nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz, a strong supporter, for attorney general. Additionally, Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has stated that they are not ruling out any options in their plans to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, even as Smith is finishing up two federal investigations into Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
However, with a few races still undecided, the Republican majority in the House may only be by a slim margin. This could complicate Johnson's ability to maintain control, especially as Trump has already pulled three House members for positions in his administration. These seats will need to be filled through special elections, which could prove challenging for the GOP.
Even with a majority, a smoothly functioning House is not guaranteed. In the past two years, the Republican Party has been plagued by infighting, as conservative factions openly defied their party leadership. While Johnson has managed to quell some of these rebellions, the right wing of the party is still ambitious and empowered by Trump's election victory. The majority also relies on a small group of moderate lawmakers, and it remains to be seen if they will support some of the more extreme proposals put forth by Trump and his allies.
Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is working to keep Democrats relevant in the legislative process. This will require unity among the over 200 members, as the party reflects on their losses in the recent election. In the Senate, GOP leaders are already working with Trump to confirm his Cabinet picks. Sen. John Thune, who won an internal election to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as party leader, has praised the incoming president and expressed excitement to work with him and their colleagues in the House.
The Republican majority of 53 seats in the Senate also gives the party some breathing room when it comes to confirming Cabinet posts and potential Supreme Court justices. However, not all of these confirmations are guaranteed, as shown by the reaction to Trump's nomination of Gaetz for attorney general. Even some of Trump's closest allies in the Senate have distanced themselves from supporting Gaetz, who has been facing an ethics investigation.
In a surprising move, Trump has demanded that any Republican leader must allow him to make administration appointments without a vote while the Senate is in recess. This would shift power away from the Senate, and while Democrats may resist, all of the leadership contenders have agreed to the idea. On social media, some of Trump's supporters, including Elon Musk, have expressed their desire for a non-traditional Republican to lead the Senate. However, McConnell has made it clear that on Capitol Hill, the days of Republican resistance to Trump are over.
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