Republicans have seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives from Democrats, networks said late Wednesday, paving the way for a showdown with President Joe Biden during the last two years of his term.
However, the narrow Republican majority in the lower house of the US legislature will be much smaller than the party bargained for. The GOP also failed to take control of the Senate in a historically weak performance in the November 8 midterm elections.
Either way, the result now means power is divided in Congress and Republicans will have a legislative base to oppose Mr Biden’s agenda.
NBC and CNN predicted victory for the Republicans with at least 218 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives – the magic number it takes to take the lead. This came a week later millions of Americans went to the polls for the midtermswhich typically result in party rejection in the White House.
Mr Biden congratulated Kevin McCarthy, the House’s top Republican, “for the Republicans winning the majority in the House” and added that he was “ready to work with House Republicans to get results.” books for working families”.
Last week’s vote, he said, was “a strong rejection of election deniers, political violence and intimidation” and demonstrated “the strength and resilience of American democracy.”
Mr. McCarthy won his party’s leadership ballot by secret ballot on Tuesday, putting him in a prime position to be the next speaker and replace veteran Democrat Nancy Pelosi.