U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday celebrated avoiding the "giant red wave” that many had anticipated in this week’s midterm elections and reaffirmed that he intends to run again in 2024, even as he vowed to work across the aisle with ascendant congressional Republicans.
While the president appeared to have beaten the historical odds by minimizing his party’s losses, he still faced the sobering prospect of a Republican-controlled House for the next two years even if Democrats hold the Senate, jeopardizing his ambitious legislative agenda and presaging a new era of grinding conflict with subpoena-powered opponents.
But at a postelection news conference at the White House, a cheerful Biden appeared energized by the better-than-expected results, calling it "a good day for democracy” while signaling no course correction and acknowledging no mistakes.