Former US president Barack Obama has applauded this Wednesday the outcome of the midterm legislative elections, in which the Democratic Party has gained control of both chambers of Congress. In his view, the result reflects that the public has sent “a clear message” in favor of a way of doing politics that “brings people together instead of dividing them.”
“This evening, the American people sent a clear message: they want a policy that brings people together instead of dividing them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face,” Obama wrote in his social media profiles, after the electoral shift that gives Democrats a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives was certified, a serious setback for the administration of President Donald Trump.
The former leader has underscored the relevance of the Democratic candidates who chose to run in districts across the country, highlighting in particular the results achieved in “areas that were previously considered unlikely,” a direct reference to victories considered historic in strongholds traditionally conservative such as Texas or Kansas.
“They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives, but they were united by shared values, a belief in public service and the commitment to put the people from their districts and states first,” he added, highlighting the party’s internal diversity and agreement on basic principles.
Obama has also taken advantage of his message to recognize the effort of the “thousands of election officials and volunteers from both parties,” emphasizing that their work has been decisive in ensuring an incident-free process and to fulfill “one of the most essential functions of our democracy.”
Lastly, the former Democratic leader has outlined the formation’s priorities for the next two years, a period in which the party will control Congress while Trump continues in the White House. “Although this Administration has two more years in office, our work now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes where we have the power to do so, avoid further damage and lay the groundwork for the future,” he reiterated, in a context in which the Democratic Party is already designing its “100-day agenda” with which it intends to reverse the economic and health policies driven by the current Republican presidency.