Democrats win the House as Republicans keep control of the Senate

Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in a crucial move to counterbalance president Trump’s power. The Senate, however, remained Republican. These have been the most highly expected midterm elections in modern US history, often deemed a ‘referendum on Donald Trump’.

Results have been unprecedented: 90 women won their elections, including the first one in her 20’s, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York, two Native Americans, Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland, and two Muslims, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar (also a former refugee).

Democrat diversity triumphed in the governor races as well: Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to lead a state, winning office in Colorado, and Juliana Stratton became the first black woman to win the lieutenant governorship position in Illinois (a position ran in conjunction with the governor candidate, serving as second-in-command).

The takeover is considered a blow to Donald Trump’s presidency, with Democrats now in a position to impede the development of the President’s agenda, and maybe even move forward with an impeachment trial.

However, while some see it as a step towards the end of the Trump era, some experts consider this “blue wave” the first step towards a deadlock, leading to a polarised Congress instead of a bipartisan one.

Regardless, it has set in motion what will be a very interesting election year in 2020.

Author: Ana Hernandez