US Elections 2024: Control of US Congress at stake amid neck and neck fight between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Elections on Tuesday can flip both the House of Representatives and the Senate, while still leaving Capitol Hill divided between Republicans and Democrats. The outcome will play an important role in determining how easily the next President governs until the congressional elections in 2026.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remained locked in a neck-and-neck ‘fight for democracy’ as millions of Americans cast their ballots on Tuesday. But there is much more than the White House at stake as voters elect 35 members of the Senate and all 435 members of the House. The party that secures a the majority will have the power to boost or block the agenda of the President — be it Trump or Harris.
Reports citing nonpartisan analysts indicate that Republicans have a good chance of taking back the Senate where Democrats currently hold a slim 51-49 majority. But the party could also lose its grip on the House — where Democrats only need to pick up four seats to re-take control of the 435-seat chamber.
A divided Congress can force a season of compromise or stalemate and lead to exceedingly tumultuous and unproductive sessions. The recent session under President Joe Biden for example saw the speaker being ousted and barely fended off government shutdowns.
Big issues under consideration for the ongoing polls include the economy, the border, reproductive health care and the ‘future of democracy’. Abortion is on the ballot for nine states with voters trying to decide whether it should be a guaranteed right. Meanwhile Republicans have continued to press crime as an issue while also trying to capitalize on suburban unease about immigration policy and an influx of international migrants. Democrats have moved to mount a stronger defense to voters’ concerns about crime and immigration.
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Business NewsNewsUs NewsUS Elections 2024: Control of US Congress at stake amid neck and neck fight between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
First Published:5 Nov 2024, 10:43 PM IST
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