A Democratic majority means that Sen. Chuck Schumer D. It also allows for more coordination with the Democratic-led House and the new Democratic White House. Still, in the Senate, lawmakers need 60 votes to advance most legislation. This often forces legislators to work together across party lines because supermajorities are rare.
Some Democrats have called for changing the rules to require only a simple majority. But that effort to change or eliminate the filibuster faces challenges in a party caucus of just 50 members because not all Democratic senators support such a move.
As a result, some Democratic proposals such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal still face slim prospects, even with the party in control. A special process called reconciliation, tied to the budget, could allow Democratic leaders to pass tax legislation with just a simple majority—if they keep all members in line. But Democrats get a big boost when it comes to confirming Mr. Judges and executive branch nominees need just 51 votes to pass.
A Democratic majority could help Mr. Biden get his cabinet in place quickly and later confirm judges, including any potential Supreme Court pick. Harris could break ties, as Vice President Mike Pence did a few times during the Trump administration. If that holds, Vermont Sen.
Sherrod Brown could run the Banking Committee. About six states that have toss-up Senate races and there are two in which Democratic challengers appear to be leading their Republican incumbents. Some of the vulnerable incumbents include Sens. Before Congress went on their pre-election recess last month, a reporter asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, about the prospects of a split in the Senate next year.
In his view, Senate leaders would deal with that outcome by using the same kind of power-sharing agreement that was reached the last time this happened. After the election, then-Democratic Leader Tom Daschle acknowledged that incoming Vice President Dick Cheney, with his ability to cast tie-breaking votes, would technically make Republicans the majority.
He also considered pushing for Democrats to co-chair committees. A few weeks before the inauguration, Daschle reached a power-sharing agreement with Republican Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi , that required that Senate committees have an equal number of members from each party with staffing and funding levels divided down the middle. That actually wound up happening only a few months later when Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and chose to caucus with the Democrats.
The Senate has remained closely divided over the last eight years with parties switching control only once. Georgia counties have until Jan. Though the process could progress more quickly. Once Warnock and Ossoff have an official certificate of election, they will be sworn into office. After Jan. Write to Abigail Abrams at abigail. By Abigail Abrams. Related Stories. Already a print subscriber?
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