Republicans cement full control of Washington under Trump’s leadership

Republicans have solidified their hold on power in Washington, D.C., securing majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. CNN projections confirmed the GOP's dominance after victories in key House races in California and Arizona, ushering in a new era of right-wing populist governance under President-elect Donald Trump.

The Trump administration has announced an ambitious first 100-day plan to enact key components of its "Make America Great Again" platform, leveraging public concerns over inflation and immigration to push forward legislative priorities.

Republicans flipped the Senate, securing 52 seats, with one race still pending. Although major legislation typically requires 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, the GOP plans to use budget reconciliation to bypass this hurdle for critical measures. In the House, Republicans reclaimed the majority after a tumultuous year under Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Despite internal divisions, Johnson’s leadership strategy, closely aligned with Trump, helped maintain party control.

The narrow House majority, however, presents challenges. Johnson will require near-unanimous GOP support to pass legislation and manage the conference effectively. Trump’s involvement, including potential Cabinet appointments from safe Republican districts, could temporarily reduce the party's margin and complicate governance.

Democrats had hoped to flip the House, targeting districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020, particularly in New York and California. However, Trump’s strong showing and strategic GOP gains in Pennsylvania and Michigan diminished Democratic prospects. While Democrats managed to hold onto some key seats, such as Washington state’s Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, they were unable to achieve the broader breakthroughs needed to retain influence in Congress.

Speaker Johnson, who rose to leadership after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster in 2023, has anchored his strategy to Trump’s presidency. Celebrating their victory alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Johnson expressed confidence in their partnership, heralding Trump as "the comeback king" during a meeting with House Republicans.

The battle for the House majority unfolded across a limited field of approximately three dozen competitive districts. While the presidential race focused on swing states in the Midwest and Sun Belt, critical House contests emerged in traditionally blue states like New York and California, where clusters of swing districts played a decisive role.

In the Senate, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has been elected to lead the 53-47 Republican majority beginning next year. Thune replaces longtime GOP leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who announced earlier this year that he would step down after nearly two decades of leadership.

With unified control of Congress, Republicans now face the challenge of governing effectively in a narrowly divided legislative landscape.

Annelise Hanson is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amh8563@psu.edu.