Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Democrats Sweep Midterms, Gaining Power To Roll Back Trump’s Healthcare Reforms
Stat: Democrats Win Power To Push Back On Trump’s Health Care Moves
Democrats broke the Republican trifecta of power in Washington Tuesday night, securing powerful new tools to push back on the Trump administration’s health agenda. Voters granted Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, with the party winning at least 54 seats in the Senate, and 228 in the House, according to the Associated Press, as of 5:07 a.m. EST Wednesday. Votes are still being counted, and the final numbers could change. The scale and sweep of the results in Democrats’ favor may lend them new political strength to beat back the unprecedented health reforms from the GOP. Still, Democrats’ policy aspirations will face challenges. (Payne and Wilkerson, 11/3)
Politico: Democrats Are About To Run The Show On Capitol Hill. What Will They Do With Their Power?
While much of Democrats’ time will be spent wielding their new subpoena power to haul in President Donald Trump’s top officials and allies, they have no shortage of ideas for policies they also want to pursue — on everything from technology and artificial intelligence to health care and taxes. (Brugger, 11/4)
Big upsets in Texas and Maine —
The New York Times: ‘An Earthquake’: A Democratic Rout Stuns Texas
Texas may never be the same. Democrats shattered the 32-year-long Republican grip on statewide offices in what had been, until Tuesday, the nation’s most populous conservative state. James Talarico’s victory over Ken Paxton, a scandal-scarred Republican candidate, in the U.S. Senate race was only the beginning of a series of seismic victories for Democrats on Tuesday in Texas. Gina Hinojosa made history with her defeat of Gov. Greg Abbott, the third-term governor and political powerhouse who, just a few months ago, appeared to have a lock on winning a record fourth term. She becomes Texas's first Hispanic governor. In one night, the state was transformed. (Goodman and McGaughy, 11/4)
People.com: Susan Collins Loses Maine Senate Seat After Nearly 30 Years In Office
Susan Collins has lost her Senate seat in Maine after close to 30 years in office.The Republican, 73, sought a sixth six-year term against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, 58, a former Maine Senate president and majority leader. The Associated Press called the race for Jackson at 1:02 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Nov. 4. With 86% of the votes counted as of 4:21 a.m., Jackson had earned 53.8% of the vote, while Collins had earned 46.1%, the outlet added. ... Jackson ran on a platform of passing Medicare for all, lowering prescription drug costs, taxing billionaires, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and overturning the Citizens United decision. (Lian, Bjornson and England, 11/4)
Reaction from President Trump and other Republicans —
The New York Times: Trump Says In Interview That He Will Accept Election Results
President Trump said on Tuesday night that he was “absolutely willing” to accept the results of the midterm elections, and was prepared to work with Democrats. “We’ll, you know, look forward to working with them,” he said in a phone interview with The New York Times. “We’ll probably work something out.” (Green and Pager, 11/3)
BBC: Trump Takes Aim At Republicans But Says Democrats Did A 'Good Job'
He wrote on Truth Social that Republicans would have won "in a landslide" if his name had been on the ballot. (Ewe, Davies and Pomeroy, 11/4)
Politico: Republicans Start To Point Fingers At Trump After Severe Midterms Loss
President Donald Trump’s allies on Wednesday tiptoed their way toward once unthinkable territory: blaming the president. The unusual candor followed sweeping GOP defeats across the country, a repudiation of the president that matched some of the party’s worst fears. Some pointed to the Iran war and its effect on gas and grocery prices. Others pointed to the president’s demeanor. (Cai, Hill, Doherty and Howard, 11/4)
