There will be political, economic, and social shockwaves felt after Tuesday’s election. One might say that this is true every election, and it was definitely the case last election. But there’s more at stake with this particular election than any other midterm in recent history.
Analysts are singing in gleeful unison about how the Democrats are going to win control of the House of Representatives. Their chants of triumph are almost as loud as they were ahead of the last election when the same analysts gave Hillary Clinton even greater chances of winning the White House. We’re all aware how that turned out.
But this election isn’t as complicated as the last. Back then, it came down to getting the right people in the right states to vote. This time, it’s about making sure every Republican and right-leaning Independent votes in their individual House races. Unlike a presidential election where only votes in swing states have a significant impact on the results, this midterm means votes are important in a much wider range of districts. I couldn’t make an impact getting friends in California to vote in 2016, but I can definitely make an impact in this election. So can you.
There are always big issues that will be swayed by the results of the election, but there are three things the people may not be aware of that will be dramatically influenced. If the GOP can retain control of the House and Senate, these three things will happen:
Nancy Pelosi will be done
This election will determine whether or not Nancy Pelosi will have a seat at the table for the Democratic Party. If they win control of the House, she’s very likely to be Speaker of the House again.
If the Democrats do not win control, then she won’t just be relegated to House Minority Leader. She will be removed from that role altogether. She already faced challenges in the past when her leadership was questioned. If they don’t win, especially after she essentially guaranteed it, then her role as a leader in the party is done. She’ll just be a long-time outspoken representative who will probably get primaried in two years if she even runs again.
Mainstream media will be neutered
2016 was an awakening for mainstream media. It was the first election in which they didn’t even pretend to be unbiased. They were unabashedly against President Trump and weren’t shy about expressing their discontent when he won. Some raged. Some cried. It was a glitch in their matrix that they’re still trying to understand today.
If it happens again with Republicans retaining majorities in the House, Senate, and governorships, there will be a seismic upheaval in the way they go about their jobs. Some in the media will actually blame others in the media for causing this through their vitriolic style of reporting against anyone with a letter (R) next to their name.
If Democrats win a majority, mainstream media will feel vindicated. They’ll feel they did the right thing and helped contribute to the downfall of Republican representatives around the country. It will be an empowering moment for them, one that will drive them to push the limits even further heading into the 2020 election.
They need to be neutered. I’ll admit that of the three effects of a Republican victory on Tuesday, this is the one I crave the most.
The agenda moves forward
What most Americans don’t seem to understand is the effect the Congress has on a President’s ability to fulfill their agenda. It’s directly tied; there is either a symbiotic relationship or a contentious one between the White House and Capitol Hill. How that relationship manifests is determined by which party has control of both chambers of Congress.
President Trump can only move forward with his agenda if Republicans have control of both the House and the Senate. It’s that simple. He needs both. All a President can do is sign bills given to him by Congress. Those bills must make it through both chambers. When there’s gridlock, progress comes to a standstill.
Whether or not we will be building the wall, defunding Planned Parenthood, getting more tax cuts, improving job numbers, and fixing the healthcare system are all directly attributed to whether or not Republicans can retain control of both the House and Senate. Keeping the Senate will not be enough. President Trump needs both chambers.
We always hear how every election is “the most important election of our lifetimes.” I’m not going to use that scare tactic. However, any right-thinking American who doesn’t believe it’s important enough to vote this time is gravely mistaken.
