What happens after the ‘blue wave’? Our team answers your midterm election results question
The Guardian ·
Democrats have taken control of Congress in a sweeping blue wave. Our reporters answer your questions about the results of the midterm elections Live results from the US midterm elections Grauniad9999 asks in the comments: With the Democrat Senate majority and the likelihood of Maga / Republican splintering, what is the odds of achieving impeachment numbers in the Senate? Lauren Gambino , senior political correspondent : I think it would very much depend on who was being impeached. There is a lot of anger at the defense Sec. Hegseth. And we could have an early test of who might be willing to side with Democrats on an impeachment if Congressman Massie, the Kentucky Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed rival, does move forward with impeachment articles against Hegseth, as he’s said he’ll do. Massie will leave office in January, so this would be brought in final days of the outgoing Congress. He’d just need 218 votes and then it’d get sent to the Senate. As for impeachment against Trump, that is a trickier question that Democrats are wrestling with, particularly in the House where impeachment articles are brought. Voters made clear on Tuesday they wanted to punish Trump and put a check on his agenda. And of course many Democrats, and a few Republicans, feel he’s committed high crimes and misdemeanors. The opposing view is that impeachment is all-consuming and would distract from their legislative efforts Dominic Rushe , US business editor: Democrats are keen to end the war in Iran and some Republicans - most notably JD Vance - are blaming their losses on the war’s impact on the price of oil. So a resolution to that conflict now looks more likely and traders are already predicting oil prices will come down. That will filter through to prices at the pumps. But it wont be immediate. Food prices are another matter. Inflation is now 3.7% and is rising faster than wages. Trump’s tariffs continue to filter through to consumers. With Trump threatening to veto any bills he does not like, it seems unlikely that Democrats will be able to pass legislation that will meaningfully bring down prices. Continue reading...