Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano’s Partners offered their reactions to the historic 2018 midterm election results, which resulted in Democrats seizing control of the U.S. House of Representatives and making some key gains in Pennsylvania but losing some ground in the Senate.
The contentious election was particularly noteworthy for its large turnout, with an early estimate from the New York Times showing that voter-participation may have hit levels not seen in decades for a midterm election.
Managing partner Sam Pond called it a “good sign” that citizens are exercising their right to vote and engaging in our democratic process.
“The importance of this civic duty can’t be overstated – the people you are electing will make the laws you, your family, community and country will live by,” Pond said. “Remember, elected officials are supposed to be your public servants. They work for you, so let them hear your voice.”
Partner David Stern called it a “historic day in American politics,” demonstrating our “wonderful democracy at work.”
“Citizens turned out in record numbers for a midterm election to have their voices heard,” Stern said. “Whether people agree or disagree with the discourse and rhetoric in Washington D.C., yesterday demonstrated that Americans can control the messaging by electing our policy makers.”
On the national level, the Democrats flipped numerous House seats to take control for the first time in eight years. However, the Republicans expanding their majority in the Senate and won several hotly contested governorships.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic incumbents Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey cruised to reelection, while several U.S. House seats flipped from Republican control, particularly in the Philadelphia region. Despite the gains, however, the Pennsylvania State House and Senate remained in Republican hands.
Both the state and federal results could have a significant impact on Pond Lehocky’s clients. Issues like healthcare and the future of key social programs were front-and-center in this election. Republicans have pledged to slash Medicare, Medicare and Social Security and targeted the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Barack Obama’s signature healthcare reform law.
Pond Lehocky Partner Thomas Giordano noted the election’s impact on these programs.
“The best thing I can say is that last night’s results proved that protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid mattered to the American public,” Giordano said.
The divided Congress could lead to gridlock, checking President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. However, the increased majority in the Senate would allow Republicans to confirm the President’s judicial nominees more easily, perhaps remaking the federal bench for decades to come.
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