Senator says election is “victory and a claim for Democrats”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , called the midterm elections and the Democrats’ victory “a victory and a justification” for the party. “This election is a victory – a victory and a claim for the Democrats,” Schumer said in comments from New York, adding that it was also a victory for the American people.

Schumer, who spoke after the Nevada Senate race was called in favor of incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, said three things helped Democrats secure the chamber: “One, our excellent candidates. Two, our agenda and our accomplishments. And three, the American people rejected the extremist undemocratic Republicans of Make America Great Again.”

Schumer said Democrats have “faith that we are speaking to what the American people really care about.” “And we knew that the negativity, the meanness, the excuse of Donald Trump’s big lie, and saying that the election was rigged, when there’s no proof of it – would hurt Republicans, not help them,” he said.

The Democratic majority in the US Senate also means Schumer remains the leader of the upper house. “I feel good,” Schumer said. “I feel good for the country because so many people were worried – I was worried – about this democracy, with all the negativity and all the threats and even some people doing violence.”

“America has shown that we believe in our democracy, that the roots of democracy are deep and strong, and it will prevail as long as we fight for it,” he added.

Schumer has signaled that he would try to work in the Senate, but is not opposed to adopting the legislation “on his own.” “My first choice is always to make it bipartisan,” Schumer said. “But on issues that really matter to the American people and when Republicans aren’t being bipartisan, won’t be bipartisan, we try to do that on our own.”