WASHINGTON, DC-Former US President Barack Obama on November 4 hailed the Democratic Party’s sweeping victories in the midterm elections, describing them as a rejection of divisive politics and urging the incoming congressional majorities to use their powers to hold President Donald Trump’s administration accountable, deliver practical solutions and prepare for a different political future.
Obama, who returned to the campaign trail in the closing days to support Democratic candidates in key battleground states, said voters had sent an unmistakable message by handing Democrats control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“Tonight, the American people sent a clear message,” Obama wrote on X, saying voters wanted politics that brought people together rather than divided them.
The former two-term Democratic president credited the victories to candidates who contested elections across the country, including in Republican strongholds previously considered difficult for Democrats. He praised their diverse backgrounds and political perspectives, saying they shared a commitment to public service and the interests of their constituents.
Obama also thanked election officials and volunteers from both major parties for helping conduct the elections.
Looking ahead, he urged Democrats to “roll up our sleeves” and use their newly acquired political authority to bring about changes, “prevent further damage” from the administration and lay the groundwork for the country’s future.
The statement followed an election night in which several candidates Obama had personally campaigned for defeated their Republican opponents.
In Ohio, Obama had travelled to Cleveland on October 24 to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and former US Senator Sherrod Brown. Both won their respective elections on Nov. 3.
Acton defeated Indian American Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who had received strong backing from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, while Brown unseated Republican Senator Jon Husted.
Obama had urged voters at the Cleveland rally to use the midterms as an opportunity to restrain the administration through the democratic process, describing congressional accountability as a “circuit breaker in the system”. He also emphasized the need for policies addressing household costs.
Obama later campaigned in Detroit for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, both of whom emerged victorious.
During the rally, Obama acknowledged that El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat, had disagreed with some policies pursued during his presidency.
“Disagreeing on means is different from disagreeing on ends, on our goals,” Obama said, presenting the differences as part of a broader democratic coalition.
He also defended El-Sayed against political attacks involving his name and Muslim identity, drawing parallels with attempts to question Obama’s own background during his presidential campaigns. El-Sayed’s victory made him the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
Obama’s final major campaign appearance was an October 28 rally in Georgia alongside Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms. Both won their elections, with Bottoms becoming the first Black woman elected governor in American history.
At the Georgia rally, Obama criticized the Trump administration’s economic policies, including tariffs that increased consumer costs, and its decision to pursue a war with Iran.
He also cautioned Democrats against relying solely on criticism of Trump, urging the party to offer concrete proposals on healthcare, housing, utilities and the cost of living.
Obama’s post-election remarks reflected that message, with the party’s victories bringing responsibilities beyond opposing the White House.
Obama served as the 44th US president from January 2009 to January 2017. His return to campaigning came as Democrats sought to regain control of Congress midway through Trump’s second presidential term.
The newly elected Congress will convene in January 2027. Democratic control of both chambers will give the party greater authority over legislation, government spending and congressional oversight, including on trade, immigration and foreign policy. (IANS)
