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Midterms 2018: Control of Congress, Trump agenda in balance
WASHINGTON, Sept 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Do Americans support the Republicans
shepherding Donald Trump’s policies through Congress? Or do they want
Democrats to reclaim the House and Senate and block the controversial
president’s agenda?
These are the main political questions to be answered in just six weeks,
when US voters pick the representatives to send to Washington and to state
legislatures, as well as the governors of three dozen states.
With polls consistently showing a Democratic advantage, Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell has likened his Republican party’s efforts to hold on
its majority to a “knife fight in an alley.”
Several political experts are talking about a possible “wave election,” a
term used to describe a party making major gains in either the House or
Senate, or both.
History suggests it could be a big Democratic year, as the party
controlling the White House often loses seats in Congress two years after a
president takes office.
– What are the midterms? –
US midterm elections occur halfway through a president’s four-year term,
when the president himself is not on the ballot.
Election Day this year is November 6, although nearly all 50 US states
allow some form of early voting.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs every two
years.
In the 100-member Senate terms last six years, and 35 seats are up in
November.
Republicans currently hold a 236-193 advantage in the House, and a 51-49
Senate edge.
Democrats would need to gain an additional 25 seats to reclaim the House.
MORE/MR/ 1118 hrs
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A two-seat Senate gain would give Democrats control in that chamber, but
this year’s Senate electoral map is particularly challenging, as Democrats
are defending 26 seats compared to just nine for Republicans.
– What’s at stake? –
The election’s impact could be monumental, beyond just whether Congress
will support or impede Trump’s agenda.
Should Democrats flip the House, the likelihood of impeachment proceedings
against Trump would increase dramatically.
Investigations into Trump’s administration, including the probe about his
campaign possibly colluding with Russia, would intensify.
Committee chairmanships shifting to the Democrats could result in a new
round of subpoenas.
And Democratic control of the Senate, which votes on the president’s
nominees, would make it harder for Trump to get any new picks onto the
Supreme Court should a vacancy occur.
– Is Trump a factor? –
Absolutely. Although the president is not on the ballot, many Americans see
the midterm elections as a referendum on Trump. In conservative states like
Kansas or South Carolina, there is little reason for Republican candidates to
distance themselves from Trump, as he remains relatively popular there
despite high overall disapproval numbers.
In battleground congressional districts, Republicans may focus more on
strong economic growth than on Trump, while Democrats could highlight his
controversial immigration, health care and trade policies.
It’s a strategic balancing act, said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican
consultant in Austin, Texas.
“The challenge Republicans have is, you need Trump to fire up the base,” he
said. “But the more he does that, the more risk there is potentially with
suburban white women and independent voters.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1118 hrs