
Republicans on Wednesday secured enough seats to win a majority in the US House of Representatives, setting the stage for two years of divided government as President Joe Biden's Democratic Party retained control of the Senate.
The victory gives Republicans the opportunity to rein in Biden's agenda, as well as open investigations that could be politically damaging to the administration and the Biden family, although this victory is far from the "red wave" the party had hoped for.
The final prediction for a Republican victory in the House of Representatives came after more than a week of vote counting, when Edison Research concluded that Republicans have won the 218 seats they needed to control the House.
The Republican victory in California's 27th congressional district gave the party the lead.
Incumbent House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy may face a tough road ahead as he must hold his caucus together on critical votes including the government and military budgets at a time when ex- President Donald Trump has announced his candidacy to once again take the White House.
Although the Democratic loss presents difficulties for President Biden, he extended a hand of cooperation, congratulating Republicans and saying he would work with them to deliver results for the American people.
"The American people want us to work for them," he said in a statement released by the White House.
"I will work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is willing to work with me to get results for them," he said.
Although the "red wave" in the House of Representatives that the Republicans expected failed to materialize, conservatives are sticking to their program.
They are preparing to launch investigations into officials in President Biden's administration as well as the president's son Hunter for his business dealings with China and other countries, and even Mr. Biden himself.
On the international front, Republicans may seek to reduce US military and economic aid to Ukraine.
ISSUES OF INFLATION AND ABORTION
The United States returns to divided power in Washington after voters split on two major issues during the midterm election campaign.
High inflation gave Republicans material to attack liberals, who approved trillions of dollars in new spending during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rising cost of food, fuel and housing made voters unhappy with Democrats.
Nga ana tjetër, vendimi i Gjykatës së Lartë në qershor që i dha fund mbrojtjes federale për të drejtën e abortit, motivoi një pjesë të madhe votuesish, duke forcuar pozitat e kandidatëve demokratë.
Gati një e treta e votuesve thanë pasi votuan se inflacioni ishte në krye të shqetësimeve të tyre. Për një të katërtën e votuesve, aborti ishte shqetësimi kryesor dhe 61% kundërshtuan vendimin e gjykatës së lartë për këtë çështje.
Zgjedhjet e mesit të mandatit u mbajtën nën hijen e garës presidenciale të vitit 2024-ës.
Ish-presidenti Trump, vazhdon të jetë kandidati i preferuar i republikanëve për zgjedhjet presidenciale të partisë. Megjithatë kandidatët e ekstremit të djathtë që ai mbështeti patën rezultate të dobëta më 8 nëntor.
Ndërkohë, Guvernatori i Floridës, Ron DeSantis – që shihet si një nga rivalët më të fortë të mundshëm për zotin Trump në vitin 2024 - fitoi një mandat të dytë, duke mundur lehtësisht kundërshtarin demokrat Charlie Crist, me gati 20 për qind epërsi.
Ish-presidenti thuhet se është i zemëruar me vlerësimet e larta që ekspertët politikë po jepin për zotin DeSantis-it.
Zgjedhjet e vitit 2024 do të ndikojnë menjëherë në shumë nga vendimet legjislative që ndjekin republikanët e Dhomës së Përfaqësuesve, pasi ata përkulin muskujt e tyre me një shumicë të re të gjetur, sado të ngushtë.
Now the House of Representatives has to choose the president for the next two years. House Republican Leader McCarthy won the support of the House majority on Tuesday to run for the powerful position to succeed incumbent Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat./VOA