Democrats take back the US Senate and Schumer promises to focus on cost of living and clash with Trump

The Democratic Party won the majority in the United States Senate in the midterm elections, according to the leader of the group, Chuck Schumer, who spoke to journalists after the result, in a broadcast followed by Fox Business. "Against all odds, Democrats won the Senate," he said.

Schumer said the majority today is 54 seats, but that it could reach 55 or 56. He described the result as a "generational reshaping" of the Senate map and cited Iowa, South Carolina and Texas as examples of states where Democratic senators could make a difference. The statement is from the Democratic leader himself, and the final count was not detailed in the broadcast.

What, according to Schumer, decided the election

For the senator, the Democratic coalition in the Chamber and Senate focused the campaign on the issues that most concerned voters. The first of them, he stated, was the cost of living, with the difficulty for families to support their home and plan their children's future. The second was what he called President Donald Trump's corruption. Schumer also attributed the result to the recruitment of candidates who adapted the message to their states.

The Democratic leader accused Republicans of having wasted the opportunity they had two years ago and said that the Trump administration had raised the costs of health care, electricity and fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. These are political assessments of Schumer, not data presented on the broadcast.

Agenda: costs, investigations and Iran

Schumer listed three priorities: reducing the cost of living, combating government corruption and containing what he called the president's chaos, at home and abroad. Regarding Iran, he said that the war "must end" and that some Republicans have already joined Democrats in this effort. Asked about how to force an end to the conflict, he cited Congress's power over the budget as an instrument of containment for the Executive.

Regarding investigations, he stated that "there must be some", but that the focus will be on reducing costs. He also said that Democrats will seek to bring down costs "with the president or without him" and that there will be investigations and lawsuits if Trump defies the popular will or the law. Asked if the result would be a mandate for an impeachment process, he did not respond directly and said that each person will make their own interpretation.

Open points for the market

The leader avoided committing to the end of the filibuster rule, which requires a large majority to approve projects. He only said that the priority will be to reduce costs through the legislative process. Regarding judicial nominations, he stated that Democrats want names that are faithful to the rule of law. Schumer also mentioned that a bipartisan group is working on licensing reform, which could help lower electricity prices.

For investors, the change of control in the Senate tends to increase uncertainty about the relationship between the White House and Congress, with possible impacts on fiscal policy, energy and the conduct of the conflict with Iran. The broadcast, however, did not bring concrete measures on taxes, public spending or debt, and the effects on the stock market, interest rates and the dollar will depend on how the new majority will transform promises into projects.

Schumer also faced questions about internal divisions. When asked about elected candidates who said they will not vote for him as leader, he responded that "it's not me" and that he will be re-elected majority leader. He mentioned the names of Adam Hamilton and Troy Jackson in a reporter's question, and said that the bench, which brings together progressive and moderate profiles, will be united around costs and the fight against corruption.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.