What Can We Expect From A Biden Presidency?

Photo Credit: Illustrasi Senja / Shutterstock.com

By Adam Tufts

On September 17, 1796, George Washington issued his infamous farewell address, warning Americans to steer clear of partisan politics so that the United States could remain a cohesive entity, united on all fronts. Ironically, immediately after retiring from his presidential duties, two opposing political factions emerged, seeking to advance their ideologies in the American political sphere. While the names of these political alliances have changed over the centuries, their deep-rooted feud continues to drive much of American politics, aligning individuals against one another on the basis of political affiliation rather than moral philosophy. In modern times, the two most prominent political parties are known as “Democrats” and “Republicans.” 

In their constant struggle for power, Democrats and Republicans have typically gained control of the government in cycles—the Democrats might control the legislature or the presidency for some time before that power shifts to the Republicans, and then vice versa. After the official results of the 2020 elections were announced, it became evident to the American public which part of the cycle the United States government was in. With Democrats controlling the presidency, Senate, and the House of Representatives, many Americans are left to wonder what the future of The United States might look like, particularly in the next two years. In this period of political transition, it is particularly important to comprehend the Democrat agenda and the extent to which it can be advanced. 

However, to even begin broaching this topic the fundamental components of the federal government and who currently controls them must be understood. 

Joseph Biden, the Democratic nominee for presidency, emerged victorious from the 2020 presidential election and was inaugurated on January 20, 2021, becoming the 46th president of the United States. This alone, the majority of political scientists agree, would have been unlikely to significantly advance the Democrat agenda. However, fortunately for Democrats, the entire Congress is also unified under Democratic control. While the Democrats lost a net total of 13 seats in the House of Representatives, they maintained a majority, with 222 Democrats seats overpowering the Republicans’ 213 seats. Furthermore, following the contentious Georgia Senate race, where Democrats managed to emerge triumphant once more, the Democrats achieved a tie in the Senate—50 Democrat seats to 50 Republican seats. While such a result may appear equally beneficial for all political parties, the Democrats are, in reality, in the advantageous position. If the vote for a piece of legislation that requires a simple majority to pass through the Senate is tied (50 Democrat votes to 50 Republican votes), then, to break the tie, Vice President Kamala Harris, a well-known Democrat, is permitted to cast her own vote. 

While the Democrats’ current position grants them a plethora of opportunities on the American political stage, disagreements, particularly between moderates and extremists, surrounding the pace at which the Democrats should pass legislation might hinder the advancement of a Democratic agenda. Some Democrat politicians are apprehensive about drastically changing the status quo, while others, such as Ron Wyden, Democratic Senator of Oregon, argue that Democrats must seize this opportunity to expand their power in America.

“When you’re in the majority, you really have to play offense,” said Wyden, as quoted by the New York Times. 

However, since the Democrats hold the Senate by the narrowest of margins, moderates hold incredible power over their extremist counterparts. If moderates become uneasy with the rate of Democratic progress, they can vote against their own party and inhibit Democrats from passing anything through the Senate. Furthermore, the shrinking lead of Democrats in the House has reinvigorated Democratic leaders who believe that elevating moderate Democrats is key to electing more Democratic politicians. Signs of this inter-party tension are already manifesting, with moderate Democrats, such as West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Machin III, announcing their opposition to Biden’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget. 

“I believe the [nominee’s] overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next director of the Office of Management and Budget,” said Manchin in a recent press release. “At a time of grave crisis it is more important than ever that we chart a new bipartisan course that helps address the many serious challenges facing our nation.” 

Appealing to the desires of moderate Democrats, Biden has called for bipartisan cooperation, claiming that unity is of utmost importance in such an unprecedented time. Looking to garner more support from not only moderate Democrats, but Republicans as well, Biden extended an olive branch to supporters of his rival, Donald Trump. 

“To those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment,” said Biden during his first speech as president-elect. “If we can decide to not cooperate then we can decide to cooperate. And I believe this is part of the mandate from the American people. I call on Congress—Democrats and Republicans alike to make that choice with me.” 

Beyond mere calls for bipartisanship, Biden has voiced his apprehension towards a slew of policies backed primarily by progressive Democrats. For instance, Biden indicated his firm stance on student debt during a CNN Town Hall, claiming that he would refuse to endorse Senators Elizabeth Warren’s and Chuck Schumer’s student debt policy, which would cancel $50,000 of federal student loan debt. Instead, he proposed a more moderate alternative: forgiving $10,000 of student loan debt at maximum. This proposal is indicative of how Biden typically responds to disagreements within the Democratic party: he weaves between moderate and progressive perspectives, attempting to locate a position that renders him the greatest possible support.

However, in many ways Biden has taken cues from his more progressive counterparts. For instance, Biden’s climate plan “A Clean Energy Revolution” is heavily inspired by the framework of the Green New Deal, a piece of legislation developed by self-proclaimed Democratic Socialists, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward Markey. Biden has repeatedly expressed his support for the Green New Deal.

“Biden believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face,” according to Biden’s official statement of his positions on his website. “It powerfully captures two basic truths, which are at the core of his plan: (1) the United States urgently needs to embrace greater ambition on an epic scale to meet the scope of this challenge, and (2) our environment and our economy are completely and totally connected.”

The Green New Deal is viewed as exceptionally progressive, since its passage (or the passage of similar legislation) would require massive economic reform. Of course, many of Biden’s Democratic colleagues are unhappy with this position, but his climate plan is vital in acquiring support from more extremist Democrats. Political scientists remark that these diverse policy positions are essential in maintaining a respected and powerful presidency. 

In short, the future of the Biden Administration, and the Democratic Party in general, is largely difficult to foresee. However, as Biden performs an ideological balancing act and inter-party tensions continue to escalate, the nature of America’s political system becomes apparent: politics are simply a haphazardly organized jumble of philosophies and opinions.