As we eagerly anticipate the election results, one question looms large: Will Trump have a (truly) unified government this time around? While the control of the House is still uncertain, if it falls into the GOP column, Trump would start his second presidency with a unified government. This would give us an immediate glimpse into how his approach to governance may have evolved and how closely Republicans align with him.
It’s important to remember that another Trump candidacy, let alone presidency, was far from a certainty at the end of his last term. During his first presidency, there were some growing pains between his outsider, populist style and the more establishment Republicans in Congress, especially in the Senate. This sometimes led to hurdles in implementing his agenda, with Republicans occasionally seeming to govern despite Trump rather than with him or under his leadership.
Even the end of his presidency was marked by Congress rushing back into session to override his veto of a bipartisan defense policy bill on New Year’s Day 2021. And shortly after, on January 6th, the shocking events of the insurrection took place. Seven GOP senators voted to impeach the former president, while others, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, at least flirted with the idea. Although not a full-throated rebuke from the party on paper, it felt like many Republicans in Congress were ready to turn the page on Trump’s chapter in the GOP’s history.
This sentiment prevailed even after the party’s lackluster performance in the 2022 midterms, where Trump’s endorsed candidates seemed to struggle. The party appeared to be at a crossroads, contemplating its future. However, as soon as the 2024 Republican primaries kicked off, it became evident that Republicans had resigned themselves to making Trump their standard-bearer once again. Even as a presidential candidate, he exerted significant influence over the GOP agenda, as demonstrated when he derailed a bipartisan border deal earlier this year.
In his speech tonight, Trump hinted at the possibility of a great election cycle for Republicans and will likely take full credit for it. With his experience in the job and a potentially larger Senate GOP majority, his status as the party’s leader may resonate more strongly with Congress this time around. It certainly feels like it’s Trump’s GOP, and the rest of us are simply living in it.
While we await the final election results and the fate of the House, we can’t help but wonder how a unified government under Trump’s leadership would impact the country. As old bylines blur and new chapters unfold, the stage is set for a compelling political journey ahead.
