Alongside reports of a possible victory for the Democrats in the presidential race, it seems that even if Joe Biden does come out the winner, his efforts will be limited by the Senate, which as things look, will remain in Republican hands. But should the parties tie for the Senate, that would put the new administration, regardless of the man at its head, in no less of a fix.
In the US system of government, ensuring a majority in the Senate is vital to the individual set to enter the White House. In their role, senators confirm administration nominees, including for the cabinet, and have the power to either move a White House agenda forward or step on the brakes.
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As of the time of writing, Democrats have garnered 48 seats in the Senate, the same as the Republicans. Each side needs 51 seats to secure a majority, and with votes still being counted in various states, there are four more seats still up for play, 3 of which look as though they will be filled by the Republican party.
As for the House of Representatives, as of the time of writing, the Democrats have 199 seats compared to the Republicans 188, and the tally is ongoing. In order to secure a majority in the House, one of the parties must garner a minimum of 218 seats.
The way things look now, it appears that despite the turbulent race for the White House, the American voter has left the House in the exact same state as it was prior to the elections. Such an outcome could render void the Democratic party's promise of a "bold, new agenda." This less than impressive outcome for the Democrats puts their ambitious plans to amend legislation on various issues, something they had promised in their election campaigns, into question.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi had expected to maintain control of the House of Representatives, but now, it appears that not only is the Democrat majority shrinking, but her leadership is now in question.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the Associated Press on Wednesday he was confident "no matter who ends up running the government, they'll be trying to overcome all that and get results."
Republican strategist Scott Jennings, who is close to McConnell, said regardless of who wins the election, US President Donald Trump had "reorganized the political parties," turning the Republican party into the party of working-class Americans.
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"Democrats have a lot to think about when it comes to those voters, and Republicans have a lot to think about enacting policies germane to those voters," Jennings said.
Zac Petkanas, a Democratic strategist, retorted, "We're going to get back to the business of governing. Republicans are going to have a choice whether they're going to be helpful or stand in [the] way."
The Democrats won Senate seats in places where they had a clear majority, like Colorado and Arizona, but took a hit in swing states like Alabama. Republicans meanwhile maintained their bases in South Carolina, Maine, Iowa, Texas, Kansas, and Montana, significantly limiting Democratic power in the Senate.
But as Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy put it while addressing his followers on Twitter, "I know folks are anxious. We need to count the votes."
