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The confirmation of victory, more than a week later, of the Republican Party in the 27th district of California gave this formation the representative that it needed to reach the majority of 218. This victory is given by the minimum in the lower house after an election midterms that have had a bitter taste for conservatives, as the expected ‘red wave’ that would have endangered the Joe Biden government did not occur.
More than a week after the polling stations for the midterm elections closed, the Republican Party can confirm that it recovers the House of Representatives four years later. The wait for the counts has been very long, but the Republican victory in the 27th district of California has been able to ratify the majority in this chamber of the conservative formation. A positive result for them that, however, has a very bitter taste because this victory has come in a much tighter way than they expected.
The Republicans will have an advantage of one or two seats over Joe Biden’s Democratic Party in the House and have not been able to win a majority in the Senate, a result that is far from the ‘red wave’ that some have referred to for weeks. leaders like former President Donald Trump. A partial failure that has shaken the foundations of the conservative formation.
The main objective of the most extremist sector of the Republican Party, closely linked to the former president, will not be able to put the Government of Joe Biden in trouble during the remaining two years of the Democratic mandate, something that had been his main objective. The current president may have trouble getting some legislation through, but with his majority in the Senate and an understanding with a few moderate Republicans, he will be able to achieve his legislative goals without much complication.
Although the loss removes some power from Biden in Washington, he has signaled that he expects Republicans to cooperate. At a news conference last week, he said: “The American people have made it clear, I think, that they expect the Republicans to be willing to work with me as well.”
In addition, many of former President Trump’s most radical bids for the Senate and the House of Representatives have been defeated by his Democratic rivals, something that has called into question the leadership of what until now was the most powerful voice within the party. .
?️?? Republican Congressman Mike Garcia wins in California’s 27th district at midterms.
García thus becomes the 218th legislator of the Republicans and the conservative party recovers the majority in the House of Representatives. https://t.co/iJmkNjwFyR pic.twitter.com/9qXWJLt3XQ
— Emilio Doménech (@Nanisimo) November 16, 2022
The leader of the new Republican majority in the Lower House that sounds the most is Kevin McCarthy, who will have the difficult task of uniting a very divided bench after the results and, especially, in view of the presidential elections in November 2024, the next great election date The most conservative sectors of his party have questioned his support or have set conditions for giving it.
McCarthy celebrated Wednesday night on Twitter that his party had “officially flipped” the House of Representatives, writing: “Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver.”
? 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
But the reality is that his party will have the smallest majority in this chamber so far this century, even less than it had in 2001, under the mandate of George W. Bush, something that could lead to legislative chaos that puts in a difficult situation for the Republicans and that they will be affected by any slight change in the next two years, such as the resignation or death of one of the representatives and a defeat in the elections that take place in that district. Complicated, but not impossible, situations that have already happened in the past.
The news also comes less than a day after Donald Trump confirmed his intentions to run for the third consecutive time to preside over the White House in a speech in front of his allies. Trump is aware that his position within the party has been discussed by some sectors that are calling for a renewal and has made a notable advance in confirming him as a candidate.
In recent weeks, several names have been raised to lead the presidential race on the Republican side, whom the former president has already tried to silence and push aside, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who after his successful victory in his state has come out stronger. , or that of former Vice President Mike Pence, a former Trump ally who, after the Assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, has become one of his biggest opponents within the party.
Will the Republican Party be able to launch investigations into Joe Biden?
In addition to the legislative issue, in which Joe Biden hopes to have the support of some Republicans, this party wanted to have majorities in both chambers with the aim of blocking the investigations that are being carried out against former President Donald Trump and initiating a series of processes against the senior staff of the Democratic Party and especially against Joe Biden and his family.
There is a special interest in investigating the foreign dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden. Some of the most conservative legislators have raised the possibility of impeaching Biden, although that will be much more difficult for the party with a narrow majority to achieve, according to the AP news agency in one of its reports.
Mike Garcia, the former fighter pilot who gave the majority to the Republicans
The name that allowed the Republican victory in the Lower House is Mike Garcia, a former pilot who participated in the Iraq War and who has been re-elected for the third consecutive time in the 27th district of California, nestled in the middle of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Angels.
His victory comes in a liberal-leaning district that gave Biden victory in the presidential elections but, nevertheless, has opted for his figure for the House of Representatives in the last elections.
California’s count has shown that although it is a strong Democratic stronghold, Republicans still have a presence in some districts in the south of the state and in rural areas.
With Reuters and AP