The chamber of the House of Representatives is shown prior to the first day of the 116th Congress, with Democrats holding the majority, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Republicans Solidify Power in Washington
Republicans have solidified their hold on power in Washington under Donald Trump’s leadership, maintaining their majority in the House of Representatives, CNN projected Wednesday. With key victories in California and Arizona, the GOP is ushering in a dramatic new era of right-wing populism.
With control of both chambers of Congress, the president-elect has a clear path to implement a sweeping agenda aimed at reshaping America. This includes significant tax cuts, stringent immigration enforcement, and a broad overhaul of both domestic and foreign policy.
Republican dominance on Capitol Hill is only one aspect of Trump’s expanding power. The president-elect, who already views his authority as nearly unlimited, will be further emboldened by last summer’s Supreme Court ruling. This decision granted significant immunity to presidents for actions taken while in office, reinforcing Trump’s belief in the broad scope of executive power. This expanded authority amplifies his ability to pursue an ambitious agenda with fewer legal constraints.
Over the next four years, Trump may also have the opportunity to replace aging Supreme Court justices, potentially cementing and extending the conservative majority well into the middle of the century.
As Trump announces his Cabinet picks and senior staff—many of whom are among his most loyal supporters—it becomes clear he will face fewer checks from experienced government officials than in his previous term. His team has promised an aggressive first 100-day agenda, aiming to quickly implement his “Make America Great Again” initiatives. These initiatives are expected to focus heavily on addressing public concerns about high prices and immigration, which played a pivotal role in the GOP’s successful bid for control of the White House, Senate, and House.
Republicans took control of the Senate by defeating Democrats in red states, giving them 52 seats, with one race still unprojected. While the Senate filibuster requires 60 votes to pass most major legislation, GOP leaders are likely to use budget reconciliation tools to advance key parts of their agenda. This strategy mirrors the one Democrats used under President Biden to pass significant bills.
The GOP’s victory in the House marks a major success for Speaker Mike Johnson, who has faced challenges managing his divided caucus over the past year. House Republicans often descended into chaos, partly driven by Trump’s influence and the actions of his most vocal supporters. With a narrow majority, any single member could derail legislation or break ranks for personal political gain.
Looking ahead, the GOP’s challenge will be to expand their slim majority to make governing easier for Johnson. Trump’s return to the White House, coupled with full Republican control of Congress, may foster greater party unity. However, Trump is already drawing potential Cabinet picks from the House majority, which could create complications. Even if these vacancies come from safe Republican seats, filling them could take time and disrupt House operations.
Democrats had hoped to flip the House after the election, aiming to establish a last line of defense against Trump’s policies. For much of the year, this seemed like a possibility, especially given the House’s lack of productivity and Johnson’s struggles to assert control. Democrats focused their efforts on targeting Republican seats in districts that supported Biden in 2020, particularly in New York and California. However, Trump’s strong performance in these states made it difficult for Democrats to gain ground.
Now, Democrats face the challenge of regrouping before the 2026 midterm elections, with no power in Washington to advance their agenda. The GOP regained the House in the 2022 midterms, largely by flipping competitive seats in New York and California to counter President Biden’s policies. Although Democrats managed to reclaim several seats in New York this year, Trump’s influence limited their overall gains. In key districts like GOP Rep. Don Bacon’s in Nebraska, where Kamala Harris secured an electoral vote, Democrats were unable to win. Republicans also secured critical districts in Pennsylvania and Michigan, further strengthening their control of the House.
In the coming years, both parties will have to adapt to these new political realities. With Republicans fully controlling Washington, Democrats will need to focus on rebuilding and strategizing for the next major election cycle.
The final outcome of the House races extended well beyond Election Day, with vote counts stretching into later weeks in states like California, Oregon, Arizona, Iowa, and Alaska. Despite this, Democrats managed to hold on to some of their most competitive seats, such as that of Washington state Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. They also remained optimistic about other contests in traditionally Republican territories like Ohio and Maine.
Mike Johnson, who rose from relative obscurity to become Speaker of the House following Kevin McCarthy’s ouster in 2023, anchored his strategy to keeping the chamber in a close alliance with Trump. Johnson celebrated election night at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and has been working closely with the president-elect’s transition team.
In a letter to his colleagues, Johnson formally launched his campaign to remain Speaker. “To truly make America great again, we will need to begin delivering for the people on day one. In preparation, we have worked diligently for the past year to be ready with a priority list of key conservative policy wins that we can achieve together with our Senate Republican colleagues, working hand-in-hand with the new Trump administration,” he wrote.
However, Johnson faces an immediate challenge: the need to raise the government’s borrowing limit, likely by early summer. This could spark tension within the GOP, as fiscal hawks may resist actions that could anger Trump or risk party unity.