As Donald Trump returns to the White House with a clear victory, the disheartened Democrats are putting their last hope in the House.
The Democratic Party also lost control of the Senate on Tuesday (Nov. 5).
Donald Trump won the US presidency after defeating Kamala Harris by securing 277 votes. He becomes the second US president to regain office after losing it once and getting non-consecutive terms
Now, the Democrats have hopes with only the House, leaving the battle for the lower chamber as the Democrats’ last chance to control a lever of power in Washington and push back on the second Trump administration.
“In terms of the power trifecta, the House is the only hope for Democrats to maintain a check on our out of control Donald Trump,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a veteran of the lower chamber, told The Hill in an interview on Wednesday.
“The results tonight are grim … for the country, and Democrats offer those who believe in constitutional democracy the only hope of presence in the White House and an enabling Republican Senate,” he said, adding, “So a lot is hinging on district-by-district results tonight.”
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Democrats have seen a ray of hope for that goal. They defeated at least two incumbent Republicans in New York Reps. Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams, The Hill reported, citing the AP and Decision Desk HQ respectively, and appeared on track to pick off Rep. Anthony D’Esposito.
For Democrats to win control of the House, they need a net gain of at least four seats.
However, during the victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump did not hesitate in declaring victory for House Republicans.
He predicted that he would have a House GOP majority alongside him in Washington next year.
“It also looks like we’ll be keeping control of the House of Representatives. And I want to thank Mike Johnson. I think he’s doing a terrific job,” he said, referring to the Republican House Speaker representing Louisiana.
(With inputs from agencies)