Democrats wrested back the House of Representative in a fiercely fought midterm election Tuesday that also gave Republicans victory in the Senate as President Donald Trump’s narrative continues to find appeal in his conservative base.
The Democrats’ U.S. House victory – with 219 vs 193 seats by the latest count Wednesday morning – marks an end to GOP’s complete control over Washington but the Republican control of Senate – 51 seats – clearly reflects that Americans remain deeply polarized.
The divisions run not just on political issues but also they accentuate along urban-rural geographic and demographic lines – with rural American going for the GOP while urban centers with large immigrant and diverse communities siding with Democrats.
In several red states, Trump’s narrative on immigrant, economy and political issues continues to resonate.
“We’ve got some big schisms out there,” said Rep Tom Cole, a Republican from Ohio, said after his reelection in a rural district.
“Rural America’s much more Republican than ever before,” he noted, according to a report in The Hill.
The House control means that Democrats can subject Trump’s policies to scrutiny through committees, debates and even legislation. But the White House will continue to lead on foreign policy and international security issues. The Senate majority also gives Trump a huge influence in getting his nominations through the chamber’s panels.
Trump raised his rhetoric on immigration as a national security issue and cited economic growth as he campaigned in a series of appearances for Republican Senate candidates. Democrats, on the other hand, highlighted healthcare and corruption as major issues. Now the two parties will focus their attention on 2020 election, and can both claim something to sell to their voters.
President Trump credited himself for the Republican showing in the Senate races.
“There’s only been 5 times in the last 105 years that an incumbent President has won seats in the Senate in the off year election. Mr. Trump has magic about him. This guy has magic coming out of his ears. He is an astonishing vote getter & campaigner. The Republicans are………
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
Democratic Nancy Pelosi, the former and first woman speaker of the House, pledged bipartisan working but said the Democrats will stand up where they feel things are not in the right direction.
Democrats are committed to fighting #ForThePeople. That means:
-Lowering prescription drug prices
-Raising wages by rebuilding America
-Fighting corruption in Washingtonhttps://t.co/OMV44vCBtm— Ben Ray Lujan (@repbenraylujan) November 6, 2018
In Virginia, Democratic Tim Kaine held off Conservative challenger Corey Stewart while Democratic Jennifer Wexton defeated Republican Barbara Comstock in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
The Democratic victories have further reduced Washington area Republicans’ presence on the Capitol Hill.
The only prominent Republican figure in Washington area who emerged victorious is Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, when he won the second gubernatorial term. But Hogan is a hugely different Republican who purses moderate policies on several major issues – something that play a key role in earning him a win in the deeply red Maryland state.
