Confused about Midterms? Me too.

Sydney Bichsel

Listen, I've seen the School House Rock videos, I've taken U.S. History, and I know the Preamble to the Constitution but none of that means that I understand anything thats going on with these Midterm election results. Let's go on a mission to figure out exactly what the Democrats taking the House means and why President Trump is calling these midterms a "tremendous success".

Key takeaways:

1. Democrats took the majority in the House of Representatives with a total of 22o seats while the Republican party now holds 193 seats (as of 11/7/2018). The House has the power to make and pass federal laws, impeach federal officials, and can event elect the President of the United States if there is a tie within the electoral college. This will give the Democratic party a bit of power to attempt to derail White House plans.

2. Republicans kept the majority in the Senate with an updated total of 51 seats compared to the Democratic party's 43 (as of 11/7/2018). The Senate, part of the legislative branch of government (just like the House) is also responsible for making and passing laws. They also have the power to investigate and impeach federal officials. The Republican party keeping the Senate will ensure that President Trump will still have important back-up in passing laws.

President Trump is excited about these midterms because of the Republican party actually gaining more seats in the senate, rather than losing any. Trump expressed his joy with the Republican winners saying “We saw the candidates that I supported achieve tremendous success,” and those who lost, like Mia Love of Utah, owed their loss to not supporting the President who stated, “Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad, Mia.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claims-big-victory-after-split-midterm-result-1541604915

To learn more about what the legislative branch can do, go here.

New Beginnings:

With a new congress, Democrats will now have the ability to launch investigations into President Trump's business affairs as well as have the power to block some of the legislative plans the White House has in store.

Voter Turnout:

It has been reported by the BBC that these Midterm elections have drawn in the highest voter turnout since 1970. Let that sink in.

Election Victories for Minorities, Women, LGBTQ+:

The total amount of women now in congress is a record breaking 107. Thanks Susan B. Anthony!

Two Native American WOMEN have been elected to Congress, oh and one of them, formed MMA fighter and lawyer Sharice Davids? Yeah, she's a lesbian.

Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar have become the nation's first Muslin women elected to Congress.

Colorado Democratic Jared Polis is the first openly gay man elected Governor. Here is a cute video of him thanking his partner, the first, first man in the history of Colorado during his victory speech.

For more Election Victories, check out this list.

Thanks for taking this journey with me! If you're still confused, watch a TEDTalk, find your local PolySci student, and pray to the election Gods that your absentee ballot got to the polls in time! Join us in two years for the electoral explanation of the Executive branch.

Oh and also, if you're not registered to vote, go do it now while you still care. Click here.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claims-big-victory-after-split-midterm-result-1541604915

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46076389

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46125121

https://halrogers.house.gov/legislation

https://www.senate.gov/history/powers.htm

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-legislative-branch/

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/historic-firsts-midterms/index.html