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With the Republican Party expected to win a slim majority in the House of Representatives, incumbent Speaker Nancy Pelosi is stepping down after two decades of leading Democrats in the lower house of Congress. In an emotional speech on the House floor Thursday, Ms. Pelosi said lawmakers “must move boldly into the future” and remain “open to new possibilities.” She will continue to serve her district as the congresswoman representing San Francisco, but will not seek re-election to a leadership role. The current House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, has already cleared the first hurdle to being elected Speaker of the House, but with more than 30 of his members refusing to support him. The Republican was notably absent from Ms. Pelosi’s announcement in the lower chamber — a rebuke after many other GOP officials turned out to join Democrats in applauding the longtime lawmaker. When asked by reporters why he missed the speech, he claimed he “had meetings.”
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Chuck Schumer honors Nancy Pelosi in Senate speech
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a trailblazer who “transformed nearly every corner of American politics and arguably made America a better, stronger nation.” Mr. Schumer and his caucus will retain control of the upper chamber of Congress next year, holding at least 50 seats in the 100-seat Senate. A runoff election between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker next month could give Democrats the 51st seat to cement a Democratic majority. Alex Woodward November 18, 2022 10:00 am 1668762000
ICYMI: How Republicans Won Control of the House
When the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3, Republicans will control the House of Representatives for the first time in four years after winning enough seats in midterm elections to secure a slim majority in the chamber. But it was far from the “red wave” Republicans had hoped for, with struggling Democrats in key races managing to protect their seats as voters – especially young people and women – rejected far-right abortion rights campaigns , Mr. Trump’s looming pilgrimage and The GOP’s disturbingly anti-democratic agenda. Alex Woodward18 November 2022 09:00 1668758400
“After Nancy Pelosi, get ready for a darker, weirder time in the House”
While the majority is very thin in the House, Republicans are set to gain new power in 2023. The GOP will have control of powerful House committees with investigative subpoena powers, the ability to decide which bills to pursue and bring to the floor, and the ability to impeach President Biden and members of his cabinet. Remember the Trump-era House hearings filled with warmongering insanity? Get ready for dozens of them. Alex Woodward18 November 2022 08:00 1668754800
The election naysayers failed miserably in 2022. The candidates who defeated them are gearing up for 2024
Secretaries of State — both Democrats and Republicans — have been critical of the 2020 election to resist Donald Trump and his allies from efforts to throw out or overturn the results. These officials certified votes, protected poll workers and volunteers from harassment and abuse, and, in at least one case, fended off a direct impeachment attempt—recorded on tape—by Trump himself. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger gained national profile after the 2020 election when then-President Trump called on him to “find” enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the state. Denied. “We will support the rule of law,” he told reporters at the Nov. 15 briefing. “They will support the Constitution. And that’s where we are right now. And we continue to push to ensure that we have a fair, just election.” Alex Woodward18 November 2022 07:00 1668747600
House Republicans are wasting no time announcing investigations into the Biden family
House Republicans are previewing a series of investigations into President Joe Biden and his family after narrowly winning the lower house in the midterm elections. The president has rejected any allegations that he is connected to his son’s affairs, but House Republicans are pushing a congressional investigation to derail his administration. Alex Woodward18 November 2022 05:00 1668744006
Nancy Pelosi: The most powerful woman in American politics. Period.
As outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveils her political future, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg looks back at her legacy: Alex Woodward18 November 2022 04:00 1668740436
Republicans may now control the House of Representatives – but there’s a catch
The lack of a significant majority will come back to bite the GOP, writes Chris Stevenson: Alex Woodward18 November 2022 03:00 1668736806
Democrats line up behind Hakeem Jeffries as next House Minority Leader
Top Democrats are rallying behind longtime Democratic House Committee Chairman Hakeem Jeffries to head a new team to lead Democrats after two decades under the trio of Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn. Alex Woodward18 November 2022 02:00 1668733206
Bernie Sanders wants to lead Senate health committee, with focus on universal health care
Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to chair the Senate health committee in the upcoming Congress, hoping to focus on health care and prescription drug costs — positioning himself to hold congressional hearings and studies on Medicare for All. His spokesman Mike Casca said in a statement that the Vermont progressive “will focus on universal health care, lowering prescription drug costs, increasing access to higher education and protecting workers’ rights at work.” After Senate Democrats won a slim majority in 2020, Mr. Sanders assumed the role or chairman of the Budget Committee, holding hearings on wealth inequality and corporate bailouts and leading a fiscal reconciliation process at the heart of Joe’s agenda. Biden. Alex Woodward18 November 2022 01:00 1668731668
As Bobert’s race is likely to tell, is it the end of more than one era in Parliament?
Nancy Pelosi may not be the only one leaving her high-profile position in Congress. In Colorado, far-right Republican Lauren Boebert faced an unexpectedly close race from challenger Adam Frisch. Ms. Bobert, one of the most visible super-MAGA Republicans in the House, has often antagonized Ms. Pelosi and celebrated her departure as Speaker of the House earlier today. Josh Marcus November 18, 2022 12:34 am