Voters delivered a split decision during the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, with Democrats gaining a majority of seats in the U.S. House while Republicans slightly expanded their majority in the U.S. Senate.

In the House of Representatives, Democrats will hold 233 seats with 5 races yet to be called. Current House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was selected by his fellow Republicans this week to serve as the minority leader beginning in January (House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wi) did not seek re-election to the House). House Democrats will hold their leadership elections in December, with current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) seeking to return to the speakership.

The House Ways and Means Committee will experience a significant turnover and new leadership come January. Ten Republicans and two Democrats are not returning to Congress. Current ranking member Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) will likely become chair of the committee with current Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) serving as ranking member, or top Republican, on the committee. On the House Education and Labor Committee, Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Virginia Foxx (R-NC) are expected to continue their leadership roles for the respective parties with Scott becoming the committee chairman.

In the Senate, Republicans will have at least a 52-47 majority with only one race not yet called. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were re-elected this week as leaders of their respective caucuses. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) announced plans to return as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee as chair, replacing retiring chair Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Current ranking member Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) will likely maintain his role. Two committee members from each party will not return to Congress in January. There will likely not be any changes in leadership for the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee with Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) maintaining their current roles.

CASE will continue to build support for a universal charitable deduction and repeal of the endowment excise tax and our other legislative priorities in the new Congress. For additional analysis and information regarding the midterm elections and the upcoming 116th Congress, download our new Washington Update webinar and subscribe to the CASE Advocacy Network.

This article is from the November 2018 BriefCASE issue.