After historic delays required to tabulate millions of ballots that were not sufficiently counted until four days after the election, former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner in the U.S. Presidential election on Nov. 7, and will serve as the 46th President of the United States. In a victory speech Biden said “it’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again.” He said his mandate involved fighting “the battle to control the virus, the battle to build prosperity … the battle to restore decency, defend democracy, and give everybody in this country a fair shot. That’s all they’re asking for, a fair shot. Folks, our work begins with getting COVID under control.”
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats picked up one seat, but Republicans still retain a 50 to 48 majority. There was a special Senate election in Georgia in addition to its regularly scheduled Senate election. Both Georgia races are heading to a runoff election on Jan. 5, as required under state law when no candidate reaches the 50% threshold. In the U.S. House of Representatives, several races remain undecided. However, it appears that Democrats will retain a smaller majority as Republicans appear to have had a net gain of five to thirteen seats. Republicans were able to “flip” House districts in Florida (2), Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Democrats picked up two new seats in North Carolina. Roughly twenty House races have not yet been “called,” and in eight of those races the Republican candidate leads in a district currently held by Democrats.
The white paper you can access below provides brief summaries of several issues that will be debated as the Biden Administration takes office and begins to deal with the new Congress.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats picked up one seat, but Republicans still retain a 50 to 48 majority. There was a special Senate election in Georgia in addition to its regularly scheduled Senate election. Both Georgia races are heading to a runoff election on Jan. 5, as required under state law when no candidate reaches the 50% threshold. In the U.S. House of Representatives, several races remain undecided. However, it appears that Democrats will retain a smaller majority as Republicans appear to have had a net gain of five to thirteen seats. Republicans were able to “flip” House districts in Florida (2), Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Democrats picked up two new seats in North Carolina. Roughly twenty House races have not yet been “called,” and in eight of those races the Republican candidate leads in a district currently held by Democrats.
The white paper you can access below provides brief summaries of several issues that will be debated as the Biden Administration takes office and begins to deal with the new Congress.