The Red Wave that Wasn’t: 5 Takeaways from a Disappointing Night for the GOP
There was no red wave. Republicans, though still poised to take the House, under-performed, while Democrats breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was a good night for Joe Biden, and a miserable one for Donald Trump. Here are five takeaways from a midterm election the public polls, unlike two years ago, largely got right: Trump is damaged goods; Biden has a calendar problem; Extremism is a Democratic issue, too; The Democratic map fails to grow; and Republicans—and McCarthy—are in for a tough two years . . . . ( Politico - Nov. 9, 2022)
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What the Election Results Mean for Higher Ed
Tuesday’s midterm elections appeared likely to bring about a divided government in Washington, signaling an uptick in scrutiny of student-debt relief, Title IX, and racial-justice efforts. As of early Wednesday morning, Republicans seemed to have a slight edge in taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives, though the sweeping “red wave” conservatives predicted did not materialize. Control of the chamber has yet to be called by news organizations. Control of the Senate, which Democrats have held by the narrowest of margins since 2021, was also still unclear as votes continued to be tallied Tuesday night. If Democrats manage to hold onto the chamber, legislative momentum on any major higher-ed bills is unlikely, with Republicans likely to take the House. The Higher Education Act, which expired in 2013, seems likely to languish for another couple of years. Still, if Republicans win the House, expect other types of action. ( The Chronicle of Higher Education - Nov. 9, 2022)
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What the Voters Decided
Tuesday was Election Day, but as Wednesday dawned, many key races—and the all-important question of who would control Congress—remained in doubt. That outcome will be significant for colleges, their employees and their students, and when the votes are finally tallied, we’ll tell you what they mean for higher education. Amid the uncertainty, some things were clear. Most of the key congressional players on higher education, Democrats and Republicans alike, won re-election. Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington State, won re-election, for instance. She has been the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and faced a tougher than expected re-election bid. At the same time, many in higher education were watching the states. ( Inside Higher Ed - Nov. 9, 2022)
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