Interwebs says Current Seats 48 Democrats·49 Republicans·2 Other·1 TBD So what happens if it turns out to be 49-49-2? There can't be a majority/minority 'leader' then, right? Where does that leave us? Do the 'other' (3rd party) get more attention as the likely 'tie breakers'?
The 2 Independents caucus with the Dems which is why it is considered 50-49. Schumer (ugh) will remain majority leader.
the "others" are bernie sanders (ds vt) and angus king (i me), who are expected to vote with democrats on organizational matters in return for their committee assignments (bernie is chairman of the important budget committee)
The two "other" party members (who are Bernie Sanders and Angus King) still get to vote on the majority leader. Also worth noting that the Vice President can also vote in the senate, which is usually done for the purpose of breaking a tie in the senate.
Bernie and that person from Maine consider themselves to be "independents" because just saying they're communists would be disturbing to too many folks in this country....
Interesting observation. You don't even know the name of "that person from Maine" and yet you know he or she is a communist.
A 50/50 split in the Senate means a Dem majority. Because of the VP. It's very, very slim, but enough for things like the Senate majority leader position.
No one knows the guy from Maine. He's an invisible reliable vote fro Schumer. In any event, no one cares about Angus. He isn't "independent" in any meaningful way. He's a lifer Democrat who wants to be a communist and is just too skaert to say so.
To save face the challenge for Republicans is to ensure the election of the village idiot in Georgia…..
The Independents choose which caucus to join and they have almost always voted with the Democrats. Murkowski won as a Indie and caucused with the GOP, but, I don't know of any others. So effectively what you would have in that scenario is 51-49 GOP. Now if Herschel can win, given the plain, obvious, and painful screwing that Dems inflicted on Joe Manchin by lying to get his vote and then humiliating him nationally once they thought they no longer needed him, well, if Walker wins, I'm sure that McConnell will have a long deep and meaningful discussion with Joe Manchin about joining the team that will treat him with respect and dignity.
