Republicans keep Senate hopes alive, mindful of the majority’s power

Losing the Senate would deprive Republicans of control over President Donald Trump’s nominees. Republicans can lose up to three seats today and still keep the Senate majority. Any further losses, however, carry immense consequences. Most in the party are already clocking North Carolina as lost to the Democrats. Losing the Senate would deprive Republicans of control over President Donald Trump’s nominees — including lifetime judicial appointments. And provided the House flips Democratic, Republicans could see a procession of impeachment trials for Cabinet members — and perhaps even the president. “The two oldest members of the Supreme Court are both Republican [appointees]. We want to make sure that if one of them decides to retire, or both, in the next two years, that President Trump can make an appointment that will get confirmed in the United States Senate,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Semafor on Monday amid a day of campaigning in Iowa. Republicans can quickly table impeachment trials with a simple majority if they keep Senate control; just two years ago, a Democratic majority dismissed the impeachment of then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.