00:00We stay in the U.S. because midterm elections are coming in November 3rd.
00:03A shift in balance of power in Washington could soon put an end to unified Republican control.
00:09To learn more about this, we will be joined by our correspondent, Don Albright.
00:15Hey, yes, thank you.
00:17Right now, Republicans control the presidency and both chambers of Congress,
00:22giving Donald Trump unified control of the federal government.
00:25But those congressional majorities are very narrow,
00:29In the House, Republicans currently hold 218 seats,
00:33Democrats 214 with one independent and two vacancies.
00:38Democrats need a net gain of just three seats in this election to reach the 218 needed for control.
00:45And right now, they are favored to do considerably better than that.
00:49Decision Desk HQ gives Democrats an 80% chance of winning the House, projecting around 238 seats.
00:56The Senate is more difficult, but it is now seen as in play for the Democrats.
01:01Republicans hold 53 seats to 47 for Democrats and independents who caucus with them.
01:07Because the Vice President J.D. Vance can break a 50-50 tie, Democrats want to gain at least four
01:13seats outright.
01:15Decision Desk currently gives Democrats a slight advantage, projecting a 51 to 49 majority.
01:21So, what would changing control actually mean?
01:26If Democrats win the House, they would control the Speaker, control committees and investigations,
01:31and could block Republican legislation and spending measures.
01:35If they also take the Senate, they would control both chambers and could block Trump's judicial and executive nominees.
01:43Democrats still, in all likelihood, won't be able to enact their own legislative agenda over his opposition
01:49because overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds of both chambers,
01:54and no projection has them winning in that kind of landslide.
01:58That hasn't happened in almost 200 years in this country,
02:01not even after Watergate in 1974 when Democrats took a supermajority in the House but fell short in the Senate.
02:08So, the most likely Democratic victory won't mean control of Washington.
02:14It would mean the end of unified Republican government
02:17and a much stronger congressional check on Trump's final two years.
02:22Dan Albright for Telesor, Boston. Back to you.
