November 16, 2022
3 mins read

Big blow to Biden as Republicans win US House majority

Democrats will control the Senate, which they secured last week, and the White House, which was not on the ballot….reports YASHWANT RAJ

The US will have a divided government for the next two years as the Republican party finally secured the House of Representatives on Wednesday days after polling in midterm elections closed on November 3.

Democrats will control the Senate, which they secured last week, and the White House, which was not on the ballot.

The days of ambitious legislations such as those that marked the first two years of President Joe Biden’s term – infrastructure, climate change and healthcare extension, are over. There will be instead a litany of congressional investigations into the Biden administration and bitter confrontations between the White House and the Republican-controlled House.

These tensions will be exacerbated by the 2024 presidential elections that got underway with former President Donald Trump announcing his third bid for the White House – 2016 and 2020 were the earlier two – on Tuesday. It will only pick up more heat from hereon.

For now, however, Biden, who takes pride in his ability to work with the other side drawing upon nearly 50 years of political experience as senator, vice-president and now president, congratulated the Republicans and promised to work with them. “I congratulate Leader McCarthy on Republicans winning the House majority, and am ready to work with House Republicans to deliver results for working families,” he said in a statement.

But he also reminded the Republicans of the midterm verdict, which spared the Democrats the kinds of searing defeats that parties in power have historically suffered in the first midterm election of the first term of their man (there hasn’t been a woman president yet in the US) in the White House. Former President Barack Obama called his first midterm verdict a “shellacking”.

Democrats did stunningly better than anticipated and lost the House by what is likely to be a very thin margin, and have retained the Senate (they have also flipped three states snatching their governorships from Republicans).

“In this election, voters spoke clearly about their concerns: the need to lower costs, protect the right to choose, and preserve our democracy,” Biden said, adding, “As I said last week, the future is too promising to be trapped in political warfare. The American people want us to get things done for them. They want us to focus on the issues that matter to them and on making their lives better. And I will work with anyone – Republican or Democrat – willing to work with me to deliver results for them.”

Republicans have threatened to launch congressional investigations into the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant crisis on the southern border and its handling of the Afghanistan exit. They also plan to probe his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings when the senior Biden was vice-president.

But the Republicans will also be under tremendous strain because of its razor-thin majority. It will face its first stress test on January 3 when Kevin McCathy, who was re-elected leader of the congressional caucus on Wednesday, seeks the speakership, a position that goes to the leader of the majority party.

McCarthy will need 218 votes to win. He cannot afford defections, because he is unlikely to make up for their loss with Democratic crossovers.

More than 40 Republican lawmakers voted for Andy Biggs, the challenger for the majority leadership, all of whom from the party’s ultraconservative wing known as the Freedom Caucus, many of whose members are fiercely loyal to Trump, and their votes and congressional positions could be cued by the ups and downs of the presidential primaries.

ALSO READ: It’s official: Trump announces 3rd bid for White House

Previous Story

“Today’s era isn’t of war”: Modi’s message resonates at G20

Next Story

India has more cards to play on global stage

Latest from -Top News

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel

Netanyahu hails Trump’s role in Middle East diplomacy with Nobel nomination gesture…reports Asian Lite News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing

Afghan Food Crisis Worsens

Afghanistan continues to top the list of countries drawing global humanitarian concern following recent political changes…reports Asian Lite News The World Food Programme has sounded a fresh alarm over Afghanistan’s deepening humanitarian

Global Fury Over Trump’s Tariffs

Ramaphosa pushed back against the justification for the tariff, challenging the interpretation of trade data and pointing to discrepancies in the figures cited….reports Asian Lite News South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on

India Skips UNGA Vote, Flags LeT, JeM Threat

India Urges Global Action to Prevent Terror Groups from Exploiting Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News While abstaining from a UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan, India has urged the international community to ensure
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Ivanka urged to cooperate with Capitol attack inquiry

The committee has been seeking over 700 pages worth of

Erdogan criticizes US crackdown on college protests

Turkiye, a NATO ally of the United States, has sharply