Republicans predicted to regain control of the House of Representatives after Democrats occupied the Senate

WASHINGTON– Republicans are expected to regain control of the House in the midterm elections, breaking the Democrats’ unified control of the federal government, reports ABC News.

Despite other medium-term disappointments, this is a major victory for the party, which has been the minority in the chamber since 2019 — and will be a blow to President Joe Biden’s agenda in Congress.

Democrats have already gained control of the Senate, securing 50 seats with a chance of winning another in next month’s Georgia runoff between incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican opponent Herschel Walker.

But the Republicans, who will take over the House in January, will now be able to block White House legislative priorities, decide which bills go into the chamber and have the ability to launch committee inquiries into the Biden administration .

Several House Republicans have already said they intend to investigate Hunter Biden, the President’s son, and investigate the administration’s policies on COVID-19 and the southern border.

GOP House Speaker California Rep. Kevin McCarthy was this week named the next speaker, the top position in the chamber and second in line to the presidency by his peers.

“I’m proud to announce that the era of democratic one-party rule in Washington is over,” McCarthy said after Tuesday’s intraparty vote.

McCarthy revealed his party’s vision for Republican rule before the Midterms. Their Commitment to America plan focused on four key areas: creating a “strong economy,” “a nation that is secure,” “a future built on liberty,” and “an accountable government.”

The pitch to voters largely avoided specific politics, instead focusing on criticism of and contrast to Biden’s leadership — particularly high inflation and fears of crime.

McCarthy also pledged to cut federal spending and said Republicans are willing to seek greater congressional scrutiny over the billions in financial assistance to Ukraine as the nation defends itself against invasion by Russia.

Republicans have been favored for months in a bid to regain control of the chamber, according to FiveThirtyEight’s forecast. Midterms have historically been a referendum on the President’s party.

Only twice in the last 19 mid-term cycles – going back nearly 40 years – has the president’s party actually won seats in the House of Representatives.

But the expected “red wave” didn’t fully materialize as Democrats retained the Senate and limited their House losses. Exit polls showed voters, including independents, favored Democrats on key issues like access to abortion, despite public disapproval of economic conditions.

“We know our job will not be easy,” McCarthy said Tuesday. “We know the task. We have a slim majority. We must work together. We want to work with anyone who wants to make America stronger.”

Biden, meanwhile, has celebrated staving off historic headwinds after viewing the election as a choice between Democratic priorities and those of the far-right “MAGA Republicans” rather than an assessment of his first two years as commander in chief.

“I’m incredibly excited about the turnout,” Biden told reporters as Democrats were set to win the Senate. “And I think it’s a reflection of the quality of our candidates.”