Last updated on December 3, 2020
Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.
Even though the 2020 presidential election results are almost certified, the nation still does not know who will take control of the Senate. As of December 2, 2020, the political makeup of the Senate is 46 Democrats and 50 Republicans. However, since there are two registered Independent senators (Angus King and Bernie Sanders), the political makeup is essentially 48 Democrats and 50 Republicans because the two Independents generally side with Democrats.
On January 5, 2021, Georgia will have two runoff elections to see who will get the remaining two Senate seats. For Democrats to achieve a majority in the Senate, they must win both elections to make the political makeup 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. Hypothetically, the Democrats can achieve a majority vote through a 50-50 split if every Senator votes on party lines.
If the vote count is a tie, then the vice president will be the tiebreaker. Since the next vice president will most likely be Kamala Harris, she will vote in favor of the Democrats, thus securing a Senate majority until the 2022 midterm elections.
On the other hand, the Democrats managed to maintain a majority in the US House of Representatives. This means that if the Democrats managed to secure a majority in the Senate, then the Democrats would have control over both congressional branches and the Executive Branch. While the Supreme Court would technically still have a 6-3 conservative majority, a Biden administration could pack the court if the Senate goes blue.
Hypothetically, if Democrats controlled the House; and the Republicans controlled the Senate, then the Senate Republicans would serve as an unofficial check on House Democrats’ power and vice-versa. A split Congress would also increase bureaucracy, polarization, gridlock, and the possibility of a government shutdown. However, if the Democrats were to take control of the Senate, then the Democratic party would be able to ram any policy proposal they believe to be necessary – some of which I believe to be necessary.
Generally speaking, I have openly stated my strong criticism of the Trump administration’s blind eye towards the mounting threat of climate breakdown. If the Democrats were to take control of the Senate, they may be able to enact proper legislation like implementing nuclear energy and providing international ramifications for China’s uncontrolled rates of emitted greenhouse gases.
However, I am weary of the Democrats’ inability to answer whether or not they plan to increase the number of Supreme Court seats. As I have expressed in previous articles, packing the Supreme Court would ultimately undermine the true nature of the Supreme Court, which is to act as constitution interpreters and not legislators.
If the Republicans maintain their majority, then we will most likely see two more years of the continued unapologetic, ruthless leadership of Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Senator has been tremendously partisan and self-contradicting to the point where he is practically a modern Niccolò Machiavelli. There are various examples to cite, but the most notable instance was when he denied a vote on Obama’s 2016 Supreme Court nomination because it was an election year but then rammed Trump’s 2020 nomination despite it being an election year.
If McConnell resumes his position as Senate Majority leader, I predict he would be a powerful barrier to any legislation proposed in the House endorsed by Democrats or Biden.
Since the Democrats will control the House and Executive Branch, they only need the Senate to pass major legislation. Therefore, whoever wins the Georgia runoff elections at the beginning of next year will ultimately decide the fate of this nation for at least the next few decades.
In the words of President Obama, “Elections have consequences.” It’s the political way for winners to tell losers: “Tough luck, you lost. Get over it.” If the Democrats or Republicans fail to get a Senate Majority, they have no one to blame but their inability to appeal to enough voters. It is as simple as that.
Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.
Editor’s note: The claims made after the separator are subjective.
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