Trump's dream scenario: Republicans win control of House and Senate in Congress sweep

WASHINGTON – Republicans have won both the House and the Senate, giving the GOP total control over Congress for at least the next two years and creating a friendly path for President-elect Donald Trump's priorities.

The GOP will have a majority in the 435-member House after defending enough key seats in New York, California and other swing districts that had appeared more competitive before Election Day than they ultimately were, according to multiple networks tracking the results. Republicans also have taken control of the Senate by toppling Democratic senators in Montana and Ohio and prevailing in other closely watched races.

Their victory sets up a Republican trifecta in Washington for the next two years, laying the groundwork for Trump and the party to implement their priorities without major resistance.

Democrats were the last party to have total control of the House, Senate and White House back in 2021 and 2022. Their trifecta helped pass elections reform like the Electoral Count Act, in the pursuit of Trump's second House impeachment after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and for the enactment of a massive funding package aimed at boosting clean energy production and domestic manufacturing.

Holding all the levers of power in Washington in 2009 and 2010, then-President Barack Obama also pushed across the finish line the American Recovery and Reinvestment act, a major overhaul of the U.S. financial sector and the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans also held a trifecta during the first two years of Trump's first administration in 2017 and 2018, when he signed into law dozens of bills including a $1.5 trillion tax cut.

In all three of those examples, the unified party control of Washington lasted just two years and ended during the next midterm election when the House flipped to the opposing party.

Looking ahead to the next two years, Trump and Congress can expect big policy fights over U.S. support for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, whether to renew or change the 2017 tax policies enacted during Trump's first term, how to fund the government and more.

While the silver linings are slim for Democrats, total GOP control gives the minority party the opportunity to mount opposition to Republican priorities and elevate rising stars within the party. Ultimately, the Democrats' ability to check GOP power will be limited. However, Republicans have pledged to protect the filibuster and its 60-vote threshold in the Senate, which gives Democrats the power to block GOP legislation if they are unified.

Next year's power shift in Congress will come with the first leadership change among Republicans in the Senate in almost two decades. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., won a secret-ballot vote on Wednesday and will be the new Senate majority leader in 2025, replacing Kentucky GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell who plans to step down from his post and finish out his term through January 2027 as a rank-and-file lawmaker.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. – who was swept into leadership last year when a small faction of his party voted to kick former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., out of power – is expected to hold onto his leadership role when the incoming GOP conference holds a vote on Wednesday afternoon.

Johnson's biggest challenge going forward likely will come from his right flank and the ultraconservative lawmakers who have at times criticized his willingness to work with Democrats to avoid government shutdowns. Trump has thrown his support behind Johnson, inviting him to speak at 2024 campaign rallies, hosting him at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and by urging House Republicans to back Johnson as speaker for 2025.

Republicans in the House held their majority in 2024 by defending key districts in New York, California, Virginia and Iowa. A couple examples: Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, beat Democrat Lanon Baccam in the Des Moines metro area and southwest Iowa; Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., defeated former Rep. Mondaire Jones in the Hudson Valley; and Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., won against Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal in southern Virginia.

The GOP also flipped competitive seats in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Reps. Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild have conceded to their Republican opponents Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans win House and Senate control in major boost for Trump