As the 2020 election cycle heats up, many analysts and policy watchdogs are taking a close look at the house and senate elections. These races could provide historic reverse results that will have a major impact on the U.S. political landscape.
The Republican Party’s majority in the Senate has been slim for the past two years. Currently, Republicans have a 53-47 majority, which makes it easier for them to pass legislation without the help of the Democratic Party. However, the House of Representatives is a completely different story. Democrats currently have a 231-197 majority, making it difficult for the GOP to pass bills through Congress.
This year, the house and senate races could provide winter’s reverse from a historic trend. In recent years, Democrats have largely won the House of Representatives while Republicans have maintained a slim control of the Senate. This year, however, the GOP is targeting Democratic-leaning states in order to flip the senate. Republicans believe that if they can gain just four seats, they will have a filibuster-proof majority and be able to pass their legislation through Congress unchecked.
On the other hand, Democrats are targeting states like Iowa and Arizona, in order to expand their current House majority by a few seats. Democrats are also attempting to flip more seats in the Senate, as this would make it much more difficult for Republicans to move their agenda through Congress.
The outcomes of the house and senate races are important, but not the only factor to pay attention to this year. Presidential elections can also have a large impact on the partisan makeup of both houses of Congress. This year, Republicans are looking to flip several traditionally Democratic-leaning states, while Democrats are counting on their young, diverse and increasingly liberal base to come out and vote.
Whichever party ultimately holds the majority in both houses come November, it’s likely to be a historic election season. It will be interesting to see how the current trends play out and how they might change the political landscape of the United States.
