Trump agenda at stake as voters decide control of U.S. Congress

[webfact]

Trump agenda at stake as voters decide control of U.S. Congress

By John Whitesides

 

Voters line up to cast their ballots for the midterm elections at Newland Elementary School in the 48th Congressional District, Huntington Beach, California, U.S. November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Monica Almeida

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans cast votes on Tuesday to decide whether Donald Trump's Republicans maintain their grip on the U.S. Congress, or if Democrats gain the power to slow the president's agenda after a divisive campaign marked by clashes over race, immigration and trade.

 

The first national elections since Trump captured the White House in a stunning 2016 upset are a referendum on the polarizing president and a test of whether Democrats can turn the energy of the liberal anti-Trump resistance into victories at the ballot box.

 

The Democrats have a good chance of winning at least the U.S. House of Representatives, but slimmer hopes of gaining control of the Senate, opinion polls show.

 

If they do take the House, Democrats could launch congressional investigations into aspects of Trump's administration, from his tax returns to possible conflicts of interest, challenge his overtures to Saudi Arabia, Russia and North Korea, and oppose him on immigration, tax cuts and trade.

 

If Republicans hold both chambers of Congress, Trump likely would claim vindication for his polarizing style, a month after he secured a conservative majority on the Supreme Court when the Senate approved nominee Brett Kavanaugh after a fight over sexual misconduct accusations that split the nation.

 

Striking a dark tone at a rally in Indiana on Monday evening, Trump accused Democrats without offering any evidence of "openly encouraging millions of illegal aliens to break our laws, violate our borders and overrun our country."

 

All 435 seats in the House, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships are up for grabs in elections focussed on dozens of competitive races that opinion polls show could go either way. Democrats must pick up a minimum of 23 House seats they need for a majority.

 

U.S. stocks ticked higher in thin trading on Tuesday, as investors awaited the election results.

 

Analysts expect pressure on stocks if Democrats gain control of the House and a sharper downward reaction if they win the Senate, too. If Republicans hold their ground, stocks could gain further, with hopes of more tax cuts ahead.

 

SOME VOTING PROBLEMS REPORTED

The first polling stations close at 6 p.m. Eastern time (2300 GMT) with early results expected shortly after. A full picture likely will not begin to emerge until late at night.

 

Problems with voting machines were preventing some Americans from casting ballots in a dozen states, U.S. rights advocates said, following complaints about registration problems, faulty equipment and intimidation they have received throughout early balloting.

 

But a Department of Homeland Security official said the reports of voting technology failures appeared so far to have had no significant impact in preventing people from voting.

 

Voter turnout in national elections, normally lower when the White House is not at stake, could be the highest for a midterm election in 50 years, experts predicted. About 40 million early votes were likely cast, said Michael McDonald, a professor at the University of Florida who tracks the figures. In the last such congressional elections in 2014, there were 27.5 million early votes.

 

“I have worked at this poll the last three elections and this is the biggest turnout ever," said Bev Heidgerken, 67, a volunteer at a polling place in Davenport, Iowa. "We usually hope for 200 voters for the entire day but by 9 o'clock we already have had 69."

 

At least 64 House races remain competitive, according to a Reuters analysis of the three top non-partisan forecasters, and Senate control was expected to come down to a half dozen close contests in Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, North Dakota, Indiana and Florida.

 

In his time in office, Trump has pushed tax cuts through Congress and overseen a period of economic and jobs growth but has failed so far to deliver on presidential campaign promises to replace the Obamacare healthcare law and build a wall on the Mexican border against illegal immigration.

 

DEMOCRATIC PUSHBACK

A Democratic victory in the House would further hinder the border wall plan and complicate congressional approval of a deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement.

 

Trump also could face more pushback from Democrats on trade tariffs he has introduced, particularly in farm states hard hit by retaliatory measures from China or manufacturing states hit by higher steel and aluminium prices.

 

Wrapping up the campaign in recent days, Trump repeatedly raised fears about immigrants, issuing harsh warnings about a caravan of Central American migrants that is moving slowly through Mexico toward the U.S. border.

 

In affluent Newport Beach, California, Russ Buller voted for Republican Dana Rohrabacher in a U.S. House race and voiced support for Trump.

 

“I love him," the 40-year-old stay-at-home dad said of the president. "Sometimes he comes across as insensitive but he’s saying what a lot of people are thinking."

 

A debate about whether Trump's rhetoric encouraged extremists erupted in the campaign's final weeks after pipe bombs were mailed to his top political rivals allegedly by a Trump supporter who was arrested and charged, and 11 people were killed in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

 

Many Democratic candidates in tight races shied away from harsh criticism of Trump, focussing instead on bread-and-butter issues like health insurance and safeguarding the Social Security retirement and Medicare healthcare programs for senior citizens.

 

That message resonated with voter Clemente Escalante, 74, a retiree.

 

"They (Republicans) have been trying to take Medicare away from us, our medical services, and it’s important that we vote for candidates who will defend that,” he said at a polling place in Tornillo, Texas. The deeply conservative state features a strong challenge by Democrat Beto O'Rourke to unseat U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

 

Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden called on Americans to use their votes to reject Trump.

 

"This is the single most important off-year election of my lifetime. I really think it's more than just about a specific issue. I think it's about the character of the country," he said in Wilmington, Delaware, where he voted.

 

Democrats also could recapture governor's offices in several battleground states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio, a potential help for the party in those states in the 2020 presidential race.

 

(Reporting by John Whitesides; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton, Eric Beech and David Alexander in Washington, Julio Cesar Chavez in Texas and John Peragine in Iowa and Sharon Bernstein in California; Writing by John Whitesides and Alistair Bell; Editing by Frances Kerry and Bill Trott)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-07

[helpisgood]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In his time in office, Trump has pushed tax cuts through Congress and overseen a period of economic and jobs growth but has failed so far to deliver on presidential campaign promises to replace the Obamacare healthcare law and build a wall on the Mexican border against illegal immigration.

 

I can understand, politically, not being able to replace Obamacare.  That was clearly a close vote and tough to pass.  

 

However, does anyone in their right mind really think Trump will ever deliver on his promise to get Mexico to pay for his "big, beautiful wall"?  

Edited November 7, 2018 by helpisgood

[Tug]

So far so good looks like the house will majority democrat probably the senate will remain republican at least now we can get a good look at trump without so much obstruction 

[Redline]

Lock him up ????????

Edited November 7, 2018 by Redline

[attrayant]

This election wasn't just about the Senate, House and governorships.  There were lots of little victories to be celebrated:
 

• The Committee on Science, Space and Technology will soon be chaired by a person who actually has an understanding of basic science.
• The ballot initiative in Florida giving convicted felons their right to vote back was approved.  That's around one million new voters back on the rolls.  Imagine what that'll do to Florida's vote in 2020.
• The Texas state House saw sweeping democratic gains this time. 
• And while O'Rourke didn't beat Cruz, who could have ever imagined even 10-20 years ago that Texas would EVER be in play?  Texas candidates almost always win by double digits.  I suspect Cruz was able to squeeze through thanks to the thin layer of slime he's covered with.

 

Slowly but surely, things are moving in the right direction.

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2018 by attrayant

[Chomper Higgot]

The big ‘win’ is the return of the checks and balances written into the Constitution by the founding fathers.

 

Trump can no longer rely upon the likes of Nunes and Ryan to shut down examination of Congressional investigations.

 

Expect the Congressional investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election to be reopened, moves to protect Meuller and his report, when submitted to be published.

 

Trump’s worst nightmare is about to begin.

 

Illiberals get your denial glasses on, the truth shall, despite Trump’s best efforts, out.

 

 

[bluesea]

"Quote" In a tweet Wednesday morning, the president said he "received so many Congratulations from so many on our Big Victory last night, including from foreign nations 

Is he all there? he must not understand what has happend or maybe going to happen to his presidency, I really believe this man Donald trump has the IQ of a Peanut!!

[JAG]

1 hour ago, bluesea said:

"Quote" In a tweet Wednesday morning, the president said he "received so many Congratulations from so many on our Big Victory last night, including from foreign nations 

Is he all there? he must not understand what has happend or maybe going to happen to his presidency, I really believe this man Donald trump has the IQ of a Peanut!!

Joking apart - given that the House of Representatives election context was held throughout the country, whereas the Senatorial elections were confined to certain states, it is definitely rather difficult to regard it as a great victory for Mr Trump. When one looks at the popular vote, which is reflected by the results for the House of Representatives - sorry, what am I saying - of course the popular vote is irrelevant - it is after all a "representative Republic"?

[spidermike007]

Lame duck donny finally has some limitations on his insane reign of terror.

 

One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind. 

 

Enjoy your last 26 months. They will be your last in politics. You have a zero percent chance of being re-elected and your business empire is crumbling due to your hatred, hubris, racist rants and nonsense. You despise all things brown. You are the true definition of a pig little Donny. 

 

Many of us hope he ends up in prison after he finishes terrorizing the planet. Unlikely. But deserving and possible.