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Since Democrats have control of both congressional chambers, winning back the Senate and the House are significant goals for Republicans. Should the GOP take back both congressional chambers during 2022 races, Biden will have a tougher time ramming through far-left policies.

During the 2020 congressional races, the Republican Party came very, very close to taking back the House of Representatives. As GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has acknowledged, House Republicans only require five more seats to regain the majority.

Re-winning the Senate majority is another important priority for the GOP. Senate Republicans only need one more seat to regain the majority; although, the stakes just got higher.

Yesterday, GOP Sen. Rob Portman announced that he will not seek re-election next year. This now leaves another congressional race next year; hence, the GOP will need to get a Republican to replace the Ohio senator and win at least one more seat to regain the majority.

https://twitter.com/senrobportman/status/1353759286485278724?s=20

Higher stakes in the 2022 congressional races

Sen. Portman's decision not to run for re-election in 2022 comes at an interesting time in politics. Per the Ohio senator, public service in the current political climate is "tough" and not without its challenges. Portman also cited his frustrations with "partisan gridlock" and lack of advancements on policy issues as reasons for his upcoming retirement.

Republicans are already hard at work to ensure that Portman is succeeded by a GOP senator. After the Ohio senator's announcement, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released a statement.

Per the NRSC, the race to fill Portman's seat has already begun; the GOP congressional group also made clear that the departing senator's seat will not be filled by a Democrat in 2022.

Reactions from congressional Democrats

Democrats are giddy amid Sen. Portman's choice to not seek re-election. A former chairman for the Ohio Democratic Party stated that the breaking news "changes everything" and also gives Democrats a chance to expand their Senate majority.

The congressional majorities are largely a make-or-break for the Biden administration. Hence, both Republicans and Democrats alike want their party in control. While the GOP seeks to serve as a check on the 46th president's most radical reforms, Democrats want to help Biden pass as many liberal policies as possible.

https://twitter.com/EducatorDrL/status/1354251911403347969?s=20

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