MOSCOW, November 6. /TASS/. After winning the US midterms, the Democrats will be able to use the budget to rein in the White House’s initiatives, although President Donald Trump will still have the final say on foreign affairs, a Russian expert told TASS.
"Control over the House of Representatives and Senate gives the Democrats budget leverage to implement their agenda. The House enjoys exclusive rights to initiate financial bills. Actually, it will mean that they will be able to block any of the White House’s tax reforms," said Alexandra Voitolovskaya, a senior researcher in the US Foreign and Domestic Policy Sector at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations under the Russian Academy of Sciences.
At the same time, according to the expert, the Democrats could launch parliamentary probes and impeachment proceedings against Trump and his closest allies. "Those in the crosshairs are the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr. Even if these actions do not lead to any tangible consequences, they will put political and psychological pressure on the administration, which will be forced to ‘trade’ its reforms for concessions to the Democrats during budget negotiations. Russia could serve as a bargaining chip in this scenario," she noted.
However, in her words, the Republicans' loss of the Senate does not automatically mean the government is headed for a shutdown. The Democrats will not have the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto, so Trump will simply rely on executive orders and pursue his foreign policy without regard for Congress.
"Obviously, the Democrats will try to block his new appointments - of administration officials, ambassadors, and judges. But the backbone of the executive power for the next two years has been built and, so to speak, is protected from the Capitol, making it possible for the White House to pursue its foreign policy without any regard for inter-party wars," Voitolovskaya said.
The United States held its midterm elections on Tuesday. Voters elected one-third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives, as well as governors in 36 states and territories. Local elections were also held. Both chambers of Congress are currently controlled by the ruling Republican Party. The next Congress, the 120th, which will be formed following the elections, will begin its work on January 3, 2027. Democrats will hold majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the new Congress.