Trump Faces Majority Test in Congress
Congressional election escalation with Mike Rogers supporting a Republican candidate.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Amid fierce competition for the U.S. Congress, the president’s ability to implement his agenda during the remaining two years of his term could be determined. Democrats are seeking to seize the majority in the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections, while aiming to shift the balance of power in the Senate, as Trump reaffirms his confidence in a Republican victory.
Trump said on Sunday, “We will win,” after previously casting doubt on the integrity of the vote and raising the possibility of challenging the results.
Losing control of one or both chambers of Congress would complicate the agenda of the Republican president, who is facing pressure related to inflation and the ongoing war with Iran.
Trump had pledged to halt overseas military campaigns before the war became a pressing issue for his administration during the election campaign.
Despite positive indicators, Democrats are cautious about declaring victory guaranteed, after previous polls failed to accurately gauge the ability of the pro-Trump “MAGA” movement to mobilize voters.
The campaign has seen an escalation in Republican rhetoric against Democrats. Trump described them as “extreme, dangerous radicals” during a rally in Iowa on Sunday.
Republicans also targeted Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate in Michigan, who could become the first Muslim member of the Senate if he wins. They labeled him a “terrorist.”
In a development that revealed divisions within the Democratic Party, Republicans received an unexpected boost in a crucial Senate race in Michigan, after prominent Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed the Republican candidate, Mike Rogers.
Stevens, who lost the primary to Abdul El-Sayed in a highly competitive race, justified her position by saying that El-Sayed made it clear she was not welcome in his campaign, despite the tightness of the race in the state.
She insisted that “there is absolutely no anti-Muslim sentiment involved.”
Meanwhile, spending on election advertisements reached approximately $11 billion, with a large portion coming from individual donors with vast wealth. According to AFP, Elon Musk contributed nearly half a billion dollars to support the election of Republican candidates.
