The chief of the Democratic caucus in the United States Senate, Chuck Schumer, has applauded the electoral turn achieved by his party in the midterm elections, proclaiming that "relief is on the way" for citizens and issuing a warning to President Donald Trump: the new majority will use all legislative and investigative levers to subject the Executive to close oversight.
"Against all odds, Democrats have won the Senate, and we have five words for the American people: relief is on the way," Schumer began in a press appearance after it was confirmed that his formation will go on to dominate both chambers of Congress. The veteran senator from New York described the result as a "generational reshuffling of the Senate map" with profound historical implications after prevailing in strongholds traditionally Republican such as Kansas or Texas.
During his remarks, Schumer outlined the three pillars that, in his view, explain success at the polls and will set the agenda for the new majority: bringing down the cost of living —with special attention to gasoline, food, and electricity—, pursuing corruption in the Republican Administration, and putting an end to the "chaos" both abroad and within the country. In that vein, he called for the conclusion of military operations in Iran, recalling that "Americans don't know what the hell we're fighting for there," and he proposed using Congress's budgetary power as a tool to force the closure of the conflict.
At the same time, the Democratic leader sent a direct message to the White House in the face of the possibility of presidential vetoes, assuring that the renewed Senate will push investigations, go to the courts, and tangle Trump "in a tangle of legislative obstacles" whenever, in his judgment, the law is violated or the will of the people is ignored.
"The days of a Senate submissive to Trump are over," he said, stressing that citizens have not handed them the majority to act as they see fit, "but to do what the American people wants." "The Republicans had that opportunity two years ago and squandered it completely," he concluded.