Washington, US: Republicans have won the 218 members required for a majority in the lower house of Congress a week after the midterm elections. The party’s razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives is sufficient to block President Joe Biden’s agenda for the following two years.
However, Democrats will continue to have dominance over the Senate when the new Congress meets in January.
The Associated Press reported that the Republican party obtained the 218 seats necessary to take control of the parliament more than a week after election day even though several seats were still uncalled.
Republicans had to gain at least five seats to regain control over the House and fulfilled that goal perfectly after a campaign in which they attempted to seize outrage at inflation, crime and the direction of the country. The Party’s success fell well short of the red wave they once envisioned, as Democrats countered with campaigns centered on abortion rights and fighting Grand Old Party’s extremism.
In last week’s midterm elections, the Republicans who had planned to regain control of both houses failed to perform as predicted. But they won the necessary seat for their House majority as California’s 27th district went to their candidate Mr. Mike Garcia.
Mr. Kevin McCarthy, the candidate chosen by Republicans to replace Ms. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, celebrated the “official flip” of the chamber.
“Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver,” Mr. McCarthy tweeted.
The US President, Mr. Joe Biden, has released a statement congratulating the Republicans on their victory but citing the Democrats’ stronger-than-expected performances nationwide.