U.S. Congress Will Remain Divided

It looks like the United States Congress is going to remain divided -- with the House of Representatives remaining solidly in Republican hands and the Democrats maintaining their majority in the Senate. The Democrats had hoped to at least narrow the gap between the parties in the House, but they didn't make much progress there. It looks like the Republicans will probably have a 40 to 50 seat margin in the House -- and that means they can continue to obstruct anything the Democrats try to do (if that's what they want).

The Senate is more interesting. The Republicans had hoped to pick up some seats in Nebraska, Connecticut, Ohio, Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Montana. They did pick up the seat in Nebraska of the retiring Ben Nelson, but lost in Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Connecticut -- but even worse, lost the seats they had held in Indiana and Massachusetts. As I write this it also looks like Montana, North Dakota, and Nevada are still very close and could go to the Democrats.

But whether those last three races go Democratic or not, the Democrats are now assured of a Senate majority. Two Independents were also elected -- Sanders in Vermont and King in Maine. It is likely that both will caucus with the Democrats. But the Democrats did not get a filibuster-proof majority. That means it is still important to revise the rules regarding Senate filibusters -- so the Republicans can't misuse those rules as they have done in the last four years.