The result of the vote in hundreds of electoral districts across the country will determine whether the next president will be able to implement his program in agreement with a supportive parliament, or whether he will face obstruction or even collide with a wall.
Corinne Freeman from Future Coalition explained to Agence France-Presse: “Parliamentary elections It is no less important than the presidency because Congress is the one that determines and approves laws that have an impact on people’s lives.”
She continued, “In basic sectors such as health, education, and the environment, Congress is the one that determines the direction, and often with a more immediate effect than presidential decisions.”
The US Congress, headquartered in the Capitol, consists of… WashingtonIt consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives, whose 435 seats will be fully renewed on November 5, and the Senate, which has 34 of its 100 seats up for election.
Independently of their legislative role, the two councils play an important role in the field of foreign policy, defense, and customs duties, as well as in the field of international aid. Their powers also include exercising control and supervision over the executive and legislative branches.
A tedious task
For example, the Republican Congress prevented Donald Trump, when he was president, from ending the health care system established by his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama It was known as “Obamacare”, or cuts from the State Department’s budget.
A few days before the election, the difference between the two parties is still very small.
Although the House of Representatives elections seem open to possibilities with the intensification of competition between the two party candidates, the Senate is likely to move to Republican control, but with a very small majority.
The Democrats currently have a majority of one seat in the Senate, and they face a daunting task, as they defend two-thirds of the 34 seats up for renewal, 3 of which are in states that voted twice for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections, namely West Virginia, where Republicans are almost confident of winning, Montana, andOhio Where they have great hope of winning.
If Republicans win these seats, this will guarantee them control of the Senate if they maintain their current seats there.
However, the Democrats have little hope of blocking the way for the Republicans by seizing a seat in Florida and another in Texas from them.
Democrats count in Florida, the third largest American states In terms of population, they must mobilize their prospective voters to participate in a referendum on abortion held by the state in conjunction with the election.
Winning the White House and both chambers of Congress
It is still possible for Democrats to win the White House and the Senate and House of Representatives, but this scenario is very unlikely.
House elections are considered a more reliable indicator than Senate elections of the state of American public opinion, as representatives are fully renewed every two years, while senators retain their seats for six years.
Democrats outperformed Republicans in fundraising in elections House of RepresentativesThis gives them an opportunity to seize the majority from the Republicans, who currently hold 220 seats.
They are focusing their campaign on the fact that the current council, which is witnessing constant bickering and quarrels, including within the ranks of the Republicans themselves, has been one of the least effective in the country’s history.
“The reality is that anything can happen” on November 5, said Keith Gaddy, professor of political science at Texas Christian University.
He told Agence France-Presse: “We will not really know until the voting and legal appeals are over, as appeals are the final stage of any election these days.”
