A Shift in Congress

November 9, 2018

Brian S. McGrath

HISTORIC TURNOUT A record number of people voted in this year’s midterm elections. Here, voters in Nevada line up to cast their ballots. MIKAYLA WHITMORE—THE WASHINGTON POST/GETTY IMAGES

American voters turned out in unusually high numbers for the 2018 midterm elections. The result: Democrats won a majority majority a number equaling more than half of a total (noun) Republicans currently have a majority in the Senate. in the House of Representatives while Republicans maintained their hold on the Senate.

Power in Congress is now split between the parties. The country is divided too. There is sharp disagreement over President Donald Trump. He was not on the ballot ballot SCOTT OLSON—GETTY IMAGES a sheet of paper used to cast a vote (noun) She entered the voting booth to cast her ballot. . But nearly two-thirds of voters said Trump was a reason for their vote, according to the AP.

Republicans won big Senate victories. They beat Democratic incumbents incumbent SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES the current holder of an office (the current holder of an office) In 2012, Mitt Romney ran for president against the incumbent, Barack Obama. in North Dakota, Missouri, and Indiana. But the House race was a different story. At press time, Democrats had gained 30 seats. That gives them more than the 218 needed for a majority. Most women voters supported Democrats, and they changed the face of government. For the first time, there will be more than 100 women in the House.

House Democrats hope to pass new laws. They want to make voting accessible to more people. They will also act as a check on the president’s power.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi is likely to become Speaker of the House. The president will have to work out deals with her. “In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “She has earned this great honor!”