By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Republicans held their first U.S. Senate majority from 1869-1871, after the Civil War. When the 119th Congress meets on Jan. 3, 2025, the seventh Republican Senate majority in history will get to work.
With this Senate majority, President Trump will likely have the legislative support to enact his GOP platform without significant roadblocks.
As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kent., steps down, choosing his successor for the new majority is key. It will shape the Senate’s direction. After being sworn in on Jan. 3, the next leader will be chosen.
McConnell held a hearing this week to discuss election outcomes. He stressed that, by regaining the Senate, Republicans could “set the guardrails” on legislation. “One of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican — the filibuster will stand. This shift to a Republican Senate majority helps keep the guardrails to prevent rule changes that only seek partisan advantage,” he said.
The Senate’s constitutional duties are critical. They span several areas, each affecting national policy:
- Legislation: Working with the House, the Senate helps propose, debate and pass laws that shape U.S. policy.
- Confirmation of appointments: The Senate approves the President’s choices for key government roles from cabinet members to judges, directly affecting executive policy and the judiciary.
- Ratification of treaties: Any international agreement needs a two-thirds Senate vote to pass. This gives senators a strong voice in U.S. foreign relations.
- Oversight: The Senate uses hearings and investigations to monitor the executive branch. It holds policymakers accountable for their actions.
- Impeachment: The Senate alone can conduct impeachment trials. This is a key check on presidential power.
With the Republicans in control, these duties will likely shift national policy to a more conservative stance. They will shape the country’s laws, courts and foreign policy.
One procedural element that adds complexity to these powers is the filibuster. This rule allows senators to extend debate on legislation, potentially blocking a vote unless 60 senators agree to invoke “cloture” and end the discussion.
This mechanism has become pivotal in managing legislative agendas, particularly for a majority party with limited seats. Some Democrats have sought to remove the filibuster.
Election results and the GOP majority
The GOP’s return to the Senate majority follows significant wins in West Virginia, Ohio, and Montana, where Republicans flipped seats previously held by Democrats. Key victories, such as Bernie Moreno’s defeat of Sherrod Brown in Ohio, illustrate the strategic success of the GOP in contested regions.
Key races on the edge: The battle in Arizona is still up in the air with Democrat Ruben Gallego squaring off against Republican Kari Lake; while in Nevada, Democrat Jacky Rosen and Republican Sam Brown are neck and neck, making both races too close to call just yet. The Pennsylvania race also saw a narrow margin, prompting discussions on recounts and election integrity. These races underscore the ongoing importance of swing states and the high stakes of Senate composition.
The Trump GOP platform and legislative priorities
The Trump administration’s “Make America Great Again” platform provides a clear legislative agenda that aligns with key conservative principles. This platform covers major issues that the GOP Senate majority is expected to support:
- Immigration and border security: Trump wants to finish the border wall, cut funding to sanctuary cities and deport illegal immigrants.
- Economic reforms: The GOP’s economic plan? Keep the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act going, cut more taxes for everyday people and big businesses, ease up on regulations, and give a boost to companies making products in the USA.
- Energy policy: Trump’s about making America energy independent again, cranking up the dial on oil, gas and coal, and dialing back on green energy rules and handouts.
- Judiciary and Supreme Court: The GOP is committed to maintaining the current Supreme Court composition, staunchly opposing the addition of justices, which they term ‘court-packing,’ and selecting judges who adhere to the Constitution’s original intent.
A statement from Trump’s GOP platform highlights these goals, stating that “the best path forward for American growth and security is through strong borders, an independent judiciary, and a resilient economy.”
Implications of the Senate majority for Trump’s legislative agenda
With the GOP’s Senate majority, Trump’s administration has a clearer path to implementing its platform:
- Cabinet and judges: With the GOP in charge of the Senate, Trump can more easily get his cabinet and judges through. This means more conservative judges, possibly even on the Supreme Court, who believe in keeping government small and sticking to the old-school interpretation of the Constitution.
- Making changes to laws: They’ve got a trick up their sleeve called reconciliation, which lets them push through Trump’s money and tax plans, even if they don’t have everyone’s support. That means we could see more tax cuts and changes in how the government spends its cash, all without needing a supermajority to agree.
- Digging into the past: Now that they’re in the majority, Republicans can start digging into what the Democrats did before. Think about looking into how elections were run, how taxpayer money was spent, and making sure federal agencies are doing their job right. There’s also talk about the Jan. 6 committee, government surveillance and policy, the public health response, the border crisis, political bias within government agencies and the infringement of 1st Amendment rights through Big Tech censorship.
Past GOP Senate majorities have left a strong legacy in policy and governance, often setting the stage for significant conservative reforms:
- Reagan era: The GOP-led Senate helped pass landmark tax cuts, supported defense buildup, and confirmed conservative justices that shaped the judiciary for decades.
- Gingrich’s “Contract with America”: In the 1990s, the GOP wanted to reform welfare, cut the budget and deregulate. This marked a shift to conservatism.
- Trump’s first term: The GOP Senate majority passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They confirmed three Supreme Court justices. They also pursued an aggressive deregulatory agenda.
On tax reform, McConnell stated, “We hear optimistic reports of what may have happened in the House, if we flipped the House. Then we’d be, obviously, more successful. Most Senate Republicans are going to want to see [the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act] extended. It produced more revenue, not less.”
This development sets the stage for a focused push on GOP priorities, including strengthening border security, boosting economic growth, maintaining judicial integrity and enhancing government oversight.
With a GOP Senate majority and Trump back in office, many are watching to see if their actions will fulfill the mandate of the popular vote.