The night of Wednesday to Thursday November 17 sealed the victory of the Republicans in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections in the United States. They are guaranteed to have the 218 seats necessary to obtain a majority. But the count continues, and some seats are still undecided. For now, the Democrats are guaranteed to have 211 representatives. Joe Biden will therefore govern with a Democratic Senate but a Republican House of Representatives.
BREAKING Republicans have officially flipped the People’s House! Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver. pic.twitter.com/JIRrLEhKQe
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) November 17, 2022
This is a poor performance by the Republicans in the House of Representatives, because their lead is very short. It is not about this famous “red wave” so advertised. But having the majority is enough to impose the agenda of the debates, to chair essential commissions, to impose oneself in the thorny file of the financing of the government, or even to use its right of veto against the president in office.
disunited party
The Republican Party still needs to come together and speak with one voice. “It will be very hard to govern”said a Republican representative to the New York Times. The problem is indeed that the only results that matter in the eyes of some elected officials concern an absolute blockade to any action by Joe Biden and the Democrats.
Some extremist Republicans intend to have a real power of nuisance. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example. Re-elected in Georgia, she is one of “Trump babies”. In a closed meeting, she secured a promise of an investigation into Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Justice Department for their treatment of jailed Capitol attackers.
Other elected officials are also calling for an investigation into the affairs of Hunter Biden, the president’s son. While Kevin McCarthy, the (probable) new House leader, spoke on Fox News of probable investigations into the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan decided by Joe Biden or even on the passage of undocumented migrants at the border with Mexico. In short, it all goes a bit in all directions.
Donald Trump sows discord
Especially since Donald Trump is still trying to steal the show and wants to establish himself as the natural leader of the Republican Party. He ignores his responsibility for the poor results of the Republican Party in these elections. He prefers to complain about the candidates, and the party, and announce his candidacy for 2024. But the Republican personalities appeared divided Tuesday evening in their reactions to this announcement.
WOW! What a low energy speech by the Donald.
Time for new leaders! #WEAK #SleepyDonnie
— Jeb Bush, Jr. (@JebBushJr) November 16, 2022
Several representatives still support him, claiming that he is the natural leader of the party. But Republican figures, including governors like Ron DeSantis, including former members of his team, are letting Trump down and predicting his defeat, seeing his candidacy as a gift to the Democrats. Jeb Bush Jr., for example, comes out of the woodwork by calling Donald Trump sleeping (“Sleepy Donnie”). Which reveals the real debate in the Republican Party today: which direction to take and what role will Trump play?