In the United States, the Midterms, these mid-term elections, are traditionally unfavorable to the ruling party. Handicapped by a record price hike, US President Joe Biden therefore risked losing control of the House of Representatives and the Senate during these mid-term elections. Who took control of Congress? Overview of the first lessons of the ballot as the results fall in dribs and drabs on Wednesday 9 November.
- In the House of Representatives, Republicans ahead
Opinion polls therefore predicted a large victory for the Republicans. But the red “giant wave” – the color of the Republicans – promised by Donald Trump, has not materialized even if the counting is far from complete. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans would have won 197 seats, against 172 for the Democrats, according to the first results given on New York Times.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her racist, anti-Semitic remarks and her conspiratorial rhetoric, has been re-elected to the House of Representatives.
- In the Senate, a very close battle
The control of the Senate is very uncertain. Everything will depend on a few key states, such as Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, where competition was tight. By campaigning hard on inflation, JD Vance, one of Donald Trump’s foals, landed the coveted job of senator in Ohio, one of America’s industrial and agricultural bastions.
For their part, the Democrats won a potentially decisive seat for control of the Senate on Wednesday morning, with the victory of John Fetterman in Pennsylvania against a Trumpist candidate, according to the American channels Fox News and NBC.
- DeSantis triumphantly re-elected Governor of Florida
Republican Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s potential rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was re-elected governor of Florida on Tuesday with a very comfortable lead. Rising star of the hard right, this 40-year-old won without surprise or difficulty against ex-governor Charlie Crist, a former Republican who had changed parties. “We didn’t just win re-election, we redefined the political map,” Ron said. DeSantis Tuesday evening, after the announcement of the results. “For me, the fight has only just begun,” added the man to whom presidential ambitions are attributed, which he has not yet confirmed.
In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams failed in her bid to become governor against Brian Kemp. Greg Abbott, Republican Governor of Texas, is back for a new term.
- Governorships: Important Democratic Victories
The Democratic camp snatched two governorships from the Republicans from the Conservatives: in Maryland and Massachusetts, where Maura Healey will be the first lesbian to head a state. Joe Biden called her immediately to congratulate her. The 79-year-old Democratic leader’s party also saved itself a big scare by retaining control of New York State, where Republicans believed they could unseat Governor Kathy Hochul.