Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

On Saturday, November 12th, CBS News estimated that, in the race for a seat in the Senate, “incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto…defeated Republican challenger Adam Laxalt to win reelection.” The win secured Democrats’ control of the Senate for the next 2 years, no matter the outcome of the December Georgia run-off between Republican Herschel Walker and incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock. 

The race for the majority in the House of Representatives has yet to settle. CBS estimates that “Republicans will win a minimum of 214 seats and Democrats will win at least 210 seats.” Therefore, Republicans are favored to win control. However, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of the political sphere.

The Senate holds the power to reject any legislation created by the House. Therefore, the Democratic Senate can dismiss any of the Republican House’s ideas, “enabling them to shield President Biden from politically risky legislation that a Senate led by Republicans might have brought to a vote”, according to CBS. Biden is also a Democrat. 

A Senate led by Democrats also signifies a major win for civil rights, put in danger earlier in the year. In June, a Supreme Court led by Republicans stripped women of bodily autonomy, by overturning the Roe v. Wade case of 1973, which protected the right to safe and legal abortion access. Republicans have also rallied for lenient gun laws. According to American Progress Action, 7 states have especially loose gun laws—Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, and Arizona. Four states allow permitless carry: Ohio, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. Iowa has a preemption bill, forbidding the local government from passing any protective gun laws. Arizona and Missouri do not allow local law enforcement to create gun laws, either. 

Repeatedly, Republicans have put the American people in danger. They claim to be pro-life, forcing women to give birth no matter the consequence, but then protect guns more than the lives of innocent citizens. 

Thus, today is a time of celebration in America. Republicans have lost control—for now.