Democrats Flip the House: Implications for Trump's Second Term

WASHINGTON – Republicans appear poised to retain the House, cementing full GOP control of Capitol Hill for the next two years as President-elect Donald Trump returns to Washington.

It's still possible for Democrats to flip the 435-seat chamber if they clinch victory in outstanding races in districts in California, Arizona, and Oregon. But the GOP holds the edge.

Democrats initially did well by catapulting a handful of New York Republicans in suburban areas out of office. Those gains were offset, however, by the GOP flipping seats held by Democrats in Michigan and Pennsylvania, coming as Vice President Kamala Harris saw pivotal losses in the swing states.

Potential Impact on Trump's Agenda

As of Sunday morning, a count by the Associated Press showed Democrats at 202 seats while Republicans claimed 212, meaning the GOP only needs to win six more seats to hold the narrowest of majorities in the lower chamber whereas Democrats need 16.

Which side prevails will be the difference between a House that advances Trump's agenda or one that stymies him at every turn.

With a GOP House majority, Trump, his agenda, and the priorities of his conservative allies would have a much easier time in Washington. But if Democrats retake the chamber, they're likely to argue voters want some check on Republicans.

From mass deportations to corporate tax cuts: Trump's agenda on the line

Which side prevails will be the difference between a House that advances Trump's agenda or one that stymies him at every turn.

With a GOP House majority, Trump, his agenda, and the priorities of his conservative allies would have a much easier time in Washington. But if Democrats retake the chamber, they're likely to argue voters want some check on Republicans.

Investigations and Impeachment Threats

Another area where Trump, already twice impeached, would prefer to avoid a Democratic House is with the various investigative powers it wields.

In addition to deciding which bills actually get a vote, the majority party in Congress also controls the committees that can investigate presidents of the opposing party and their allies. In the House, that often includes inquiries that create headaches for the sitting administration, even if they don't result in substantive changes.

Should Republicans keep the House, you could envision a continuation of probes into the origins of COVID-19, but also other investigations into the outgoing Biden administration's past actions, such as the prosecution of rioters involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.