Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described Democrats’ gains in the midterm elections as a “generational remake of the Senate map” and said the party must deliver on the priorities voters set out for it.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington, Schumer said voters had not given Democrats a majority so they could do whatever they wanted, but had entrusted the party to act on the public’s behalf.
Democrats made gains in states previously carried by President Trump, including Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Their victories also included a historic win in Kansas, which had not elected a Democrat to the Senate in 94 years. Schumer credited the party’s candidates with tailoring their messages to their states.
Democrats now hold 54 Senate seats, counting two independents who caucus with the party. The races in Alaska and Mississippi had not yet been called. Schumer is poised to become Senate majority leader in January.
Schumer said Democrats would seek to lower the cost of living, end the Iran war and investigate the White House over allegations of corruption. He acknowledged that some voters remain skeptical the party will follow through and said Democrats would work to reduce costs “with the president or without him.”
President Trump has said he would use his veto on Democratic legislative priorities, while also signaling that he may be open to negotiating with the new Democratic-controlled Congress. Schumer declared that “the days of Trump’s supplicant Senate are over.”
Sources: NPR Politics.