2020 Congressional Elections

2020+Congressional+Elections

Kate Larrick, Staff Writer

With all the focus on the presidential election this year, it is easy to lose sight of the other elections that are taking place. As Donald Trump and Joe Biden battled to become the leader of the free world, hundreds of Democrats and Republicans were engaged in the fight to hold the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

Elections were held for 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Prior to this year’s election, the Democrats held a majority in the House of Representatives with 232 out of 435 seats, while the Republicans controlled the Senate with 53 out of 100 seats. 

As of Nov. 9, 215 Democrats and 198 Republicans have been elected to the House, and 46 Democrats and 48 Republicans have been elected to the Senate. Parties who hold the majority in Congress are more likely to carry out their agendas since it becomes easier to win a vote. 

CNN projects that Democrats will maintain their majority in the House, while Senate control is still up for grabs.

This year’s congressional elections featured exciting progress for many minority groups.

A record number of Native American women were elected to Congress. Democrats Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids are entering their second term in the House of Representatives, while Republican Yvette Herrell is beginning her first term. According to a Center for American Women and Politics report, 18 Native American women ran for Congress this year, which is also a record. Overall, six Native American people, three men and three women, have been elected to Congress. 

All four of the Democratic congresswomen referred to as “The Squad,” were re-elected. This group includes Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. After President Trump posted a series of tweets saying that they “originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe” and that they should “go back” to them, they held a press conference to condemn his racist comments. Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, and Pressley were born in the United States, and Omar, a Somalian refugee, has been a citizen for 20 years. They have certainly proven their abilities and are all entering their second term. 

Sarah McBride became the first transgender state senator in United States history after Delaware Democrats elected her with about 73% of the vote. 

“Right now in America, we are seeing voices that for so long were pushed to the margins and to the shadows finally being heard,” McBride told The New York Times.

Senator David Perdue’s re-election race in Georgia will go to a January runoff. His election and a second Georgia runoff will most likely decide which party controls the Senate.

With Biden as president, the Democrats will be able to start the year off strong with victories in Congress, which will likely include repealing some of Trump’s policies. Until January, when the congressional elections in Georgia come to a close, it is unsure which side will hold the Senate majority.

 

Photo courtesy of CNN.COM