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Republicans are expected to have won a majority in the US House of Representatives with at least 218 seats, according to Decision Desk HQ. There are still 14 outstanding races, but the GOP is believed to have captured the lower house of Congress. The final result will likely see a very slim majority for Republicans making things difficult for the party leadership, but Kevin McCarthy has already cleared the first hurdle to becoming president by winning the nomination. He now faces a weeks-long battle to quell right-wing objections likely to offer concessions to the Freedom Caucus. In an internal vote, Mr McCarthy received 188 votes, while 31 voted for other candidates. He needs more than 218 lawmakers in his corner when the new Congress convenes in January, likely leaving room for just a few votes. Meanwhile, Democrats are now set to retain control of the Senate, already securing 50 seats with hopes of retaining another in a runoff in Georgia next month. Many Republican senators have criticized their leader, Mitch McConnell, since the election, but others have blamed Donald Trump for their failure to retake the upper chamber.
Basic points
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Election denialists fail overwhelmingly in 2022. Defeating candidates warn threat not over
Republican candidates who rejected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election lost every battleground nationally for offices that control how elections are conducted, a major blow to Donald Trump’s campaign to install loyalists in critical state positions that could to do in 2024 what he failed to do in 2020. Voters overwhelmingly rejected candidates who reinforced the former president’s false narrative that his election was stolen or tainted by Democratic fraud or malfeasance and promised undemocratic agendas that would subvert the electoral process to ensure GOP victories. “Trying to delegitimize democracy is not a winning strategy,” said Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “But we still have a presidential election [in 2024] in which we expect many of the same challenges.”
The election naysayers failed miserably in 2022
Voters rejected Republicans in crucial statewide races run on false campaign narratives and endless complaints. After being beaten, newly elected officials warn that the GOP movement of Trump loyalists and conspiracy theorists is far from over, reports Alex Woodward Alex Woodward16 November 2022 14:30 1668607240
ICYMI: Greene supports the GOP’s “civil war” idea
The Georgia congresswoman also indicated she would support House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in an interview on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast. “To succeed, we will have to work together. That means we’re going to fight it,” Ms Green said. “And I’m telling you, I’ve always said I’m not afraid of civil war in the GOP. I lean into it.” Andrew Naughtie16 November 2022 14:00 1668605440
McCarthy’s slim majority in the House presents a ‘nearly impossible task’
With the Democrats’ chances of retaining a House majority slim, the floodgates to Kevin McCarthy’s personal hell are about to open. A slim majority will mean Mr. McCarthy is more of a prison for conservatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert (who looks increasingly likely to win her race in Colorado’s 3rd district). To get a better idea of what’s to come for House Republicans, the Independent spoke with Brendan Buck. Mr. Buck is familiar with GOP infighting as he served as press secretary to Speaker John Boehner and adviser to Speaker Paul Ryan, during which both men had to manage far-right factions. Now Mr. McCarthy must lead the House Republican conference if he wins the majority. “This is almost an impossible task,” Mr Buck said. “You can pretty much throw any kind of legislative agenda out the window, and if you look at it in a positive way.” Eric Garcia has the interview. Andrew Naughtie November 16, 2022 1:30 p.m 1668603600
MSNBC reporter launches Kari Lake’s ‘Trumpism’ debacle
Johanna Chisholm reports what Vaughn Hillyard said. Andrew Naughtie16 November 2022 13:00 1668601800
Mastriano was ridiculed for making a concession statement
Doug Mastriano finally conceded the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election after refusing to do so for several days. The Republican nominee released a lengthy statement on Twitter saying he had been “massively outspent” by out-of-state Democrats. “Hard to accept the results as they are, there is no right course but to concede,” said the gubernatorial candidate, not understanding the irony inherent in that statement. Andrew Naughtie November 16, 2022 12:30 p.m 1668600000
McConnell gives the election after the post-mortem
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave reporters Tuesday a post-mortem on the midterm elections. He said the Republican Party underperformed with independents and moderates because their impression of many in the party was one of “chaos, negativity, over-the-top attacks” that “frightened” voters. Senator McConnel said he never predicted a red wave because the polling didn’t show there was one. “We weren’t dealing with issues in a responsible way,” he said, also noting how the party is particularly crushed by independent voters in Arizona and New Hampshire. Andrew Naughtie November 16, 2022 12:00 p.m 1668598200
Biden tempers expectations on abortion rights after midterms
President Joe Biden does not believe there are enough votes in the upcoming Congress to enshrine abortion protections in federal law after pending midterm election results give Republican lawmakers potential control of the House of Representatives. Alex Woodward has the story. Andrew Naughtie November 16, 2022 11:30 am 1668595500
Pelosi says ‘disgusting’ GOP response to husband attack may have swayed voters
Some Americans may have voted for Democrats to keep at least one house of Congress simply because of the growing ugliness of the conservative political movement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Sunday. Oliver O’Connell November 16, 2022 10:45 am 1668591900
Kari Lake scoffs after tweeting Arizonans know ‘BS when they see it’
Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake continues to refuse to concede her race against Katie Hobbs, who was being called by several news networks Monday afternoon, after a batch of votes from Maricopa County further extended her challenger’s lead. Now, the Republican’s provocative message to her Twitter followers is being mocked by Ms. Hobbs’ supporters and Democrats across the country. John Bowden has the story. Oliver O’Connell16 November 2022 09:45 1668588300
Voices: McConnell to blame for GOP Senate failure — but not for the reasons conservatives think
Conservatives are calling for his head for not supporting “ultra-MAGA” candidates. But he blew their chances by affirming the justices who killed Roe v Wade, writes Eric Garcia. Oliver O’Connell16 November 2022 08:45
