In the United States, the midterm elections for Congress took place. Americans elected all 435 members of the House of Representatives, part of the Senate, as well as governors and local authorities. The preliminary result (the final will be announced in a few weeks, as in Alaska, for example, ballots from overseas voters may still arrive) is astonishing: the Democrats not only regained control over both chambers of Congress but also dealt a significant defeat to the Republicans. American media have dubbed this sweeping shift of votes to the Democrats as a “blue wave.” As of now, they have 54 seats in the Senate, Republicans have 44 (losing seven), in the House of Representatives they have 228, and Republicans have 139 (losing 25 seats).
Democrats won even in states that traditionally supported Republicans. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won the Senate election, and Gina Hinojosa became the first Latina elected as governor of the state. Moreover, Democrats had not been elected to the Senate in this state for 38 years, and in Kansas for 94!
“I am absolutely ready to accept these results,” Donald Trump told The New York Times. “We will work with the Democrats, and we will probably come to some agreements.”
Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, called the result a “great American comeback” and promised to hold the Trump administration accountable. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, admitted that he was disappointed with the results and urged Republicans not to give up. He warned Democrats that turning Congress into a platform for political revenge would harm Americans.
Such election results may signify the end of Trump’s political dominance and the beginning of a serious struggle for the future of the Republican Party, according to The Guardian. An article in Reuters suggests that voters punished Trump for economic problems, the rising cost of living, and the unpopular war with Iran. One way or another, as expressed by the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, Americans have sent a clear signal: they want change in the country. Ukrainians, too, hope for certain changes in the foreign policy of their ally. What these might be, LB.ua asked former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko.
Mr. Volodymyr, the election results in the States are already being called devastating for the Republicans. Recently in a conversation with LB.ua you predicted that not only the House of Representatives but also the Senate would go to the Democrats. How do you assess the results of American voting? Unexpected even for you?
I think the result impressed not only me but also the Democrats themselves: they did not expect this was possible, and now both they and the Republicans are recovering. Each in their own way. For the Democrats, it’s a positive shock, and for the Republicans, it’s a tragedy. This will begin the formation of a new political landscape in America.
Indeed, I did not anticipate such a crushing result. I thought there would be a small majority in Congress, minimal (one or two votes) in the Senate.
Is there a difference between having an advantage of a few votes or a few dozen votes? It’s still not two-thirds of the chamber needed to overcome, for example, a presidential veto. How will such a majority work?
This is a total rout. Trump led the Republican Party to disaster. The biggest threat to him now is that a reasonable part of the Republican Party (and there are many normal, sensible people with whom we traditionally have good partnerships) may decide it’s time to end with Trump, and then they will quickly find ways to join Democrats to vote for any impeachment. This would be a real Trump disaster. His personal disaster.
What could this bring? That’s the question. Because then JD Vance automatically takes his place, and he will definitely run in the next presidential election from the position of president. And this is unlikely to be a positive moment for the Democrats. So they will think about how best to position themselves now: either just mock Donald Trump for these two years (and along with him the Republican Party itself) or take some radical steps. A very interesting future configuration is forming in America.
Several of Ukraine’s allies among the Republicans in Congress have already lost: Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lawler, Rob Bresnahan, Mike Carey. Senators Susan Collins and Darlene Graham. Could the newly elected become loyal?
This means we need to start serious work with the new Congress and the senators who have been elected. Depending on the situation, they can change their position.
Donald Trump said that if his name had been on the ballots, Republicans would have won across the country. Does he truly believe in his own popularity and distance himself from the party’s failure?
Everything will depend on how they wake up, so to speak, tomorrow and what they read in the final voting results. If it turns into internal turmoil within the Republican Party, then many things could change. I think it won’t affect Ukraine: I see more positive than negative here, because both the normal Democratic majority and the sensible part of the Republicans will be our allies. Everyone sees that American society supports Ukraine. Why Trump supports Russia in this context is the question. And perhaps he will have to change this position.
Can he assess the situation? Will it make him behave more cautiously and care about the upcoming elections?
What else can he do? Of course, he can keep pushing forward and make things worse, but I think now those who want to see the Republican Party functional will hold him back.
Are new Democratic leaders emerging who can build a certain strategy, particularly regarding the presidential elections?
It’s premature to talk about this now, with two years until the presidential elections, and many things will change. The main task for the Democrats now is to bring Trump (if he becomes president) lower and lower, along with the image of the Republican Party. This is what they can successfully do now by sitting on all committees, hounding Trump by all possible means. Not giving him money, blocking all his executive orders. All this is theoretically possible, and I think Trump is transforming from not just a lame, but a wounded duck. How long he will keep flying is the question.
And in the eyes of China and Russia, whose leaders Trump respects for their strength, who will he be? How will they perceive these results?
Let’s wait another day or two, and it will become clear. They will speak about it themselves. Today, in Russia, I think it’s a day of mourning. They were hoping that Trump would somehow hold on, but here it’s a complete collapse. Meanwhile, in China, they will be celebrating because they dream of the US being weaker and for Trump not to make the blunders he has already made. Everyone will be grieving or celebrating in their own way.
Collage: TSN
