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Joe Biden insistedon Wednesday that he wn’t change anything about his presidency after Democrats had a better night than expected in the midterm election – even though a majority of voters said the country was on the wrong track.
The president was in a jovial mood after his party kept a red wave from crashing over the country in House, Senate and gubernatorial races.
He mocked the media for its predictions going into election night – which had him and his Democrats doing badly – and made jokes when asked about Republicans intentions to investigate his family and about his potential 2024 competition.
‘Nothing,’ Biden said, when asked what changes would come in his administration. In exit polls, 73% of voters said they were dissatisfied or angry about the way things are going in the country today.
Biden expressed confidence he would win over those voters.
‘They’re just finding out what we’re doing,’ he said. ‘The more they know about what we’re doing, the more support there is.’
Biden pointed to policies like cutting prescription drug prices, and the roads and bridges being improved through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and future high speed Amtrak lines, explaining, ‘there’s a lot of things that are just starting to kick in.’
‘I’m not going to change,’ he said.
President Joe Biden held the traditional post-midterm press conference Wednesday in the State Dining Room after Democrats did better-than-expected in the races
President Biden joked about Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump jockeying for GOP nomination; ‘It’ll be fun watching them take on each other,’ he said
Ane he joked with reporters about election predictions.
‘Look, the predictions were and again, I’m not being critical of anybody that played the predictions. This is supposed to be a red wave. You talked about us losing 30 to 50 seats. It’s not going to happen,’ he noted.
Biden was quick with the quip when asked about Republican plans for the next two years of his presidency.
He confirmed he was considering running for re-election in 2024 and, when asked about the possibiilty of a Republican battle between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, he quipped: ‘It’ll be fun watching them take on each other.’
His Wednesday press conference served as a victory lap.
‘While the press and the pundits are predicting a giant red wave. It didn’t happen,’ Biden said. ‘And I know you were somewhat miffed by my incessant optimism, I felt good during the whole process, I thought we were going to do fine.’
He noted that while every loss is ‘painful’ and some Democrats got booted froom their seats, he cited the statistic that his party lost fewer seats in the House than any Democrat did in the last 40 years.
And he said the midterm was the best for Democrats being elected to governors’ mansions since 1986.
When asked if they results made him more motivated to run for a second term, he said that was always part of the plan.
‘Our intention is to run again. That’s been our intention. Regardless of what this election was,’ he said, referring to conversations he’s had with First Lady Jill Biden. ‘But this is ultimately a family decision.’
He said he hoped he and the first lady would have time to ‘sneak away’ around the holidays.
President Joe Biden addresses reporters Wednesday afternoon from the White House’s State Dining Room
The Democrats had a better-than-expected night, holding off a red wave or a ‘shellacking’ as former President Barack Obama called his first experience losing midterm races.
The House still hasn’t been called for Republicans – with 206 House races so far going their way, while Democrats retained 177, with a number of competitive races still to be called.
To win the House majority, a party needs 218 seats.
The Senate remained winnable for the Democrats, with outstanding calls to be made in Nevada and Arizona.
Arizona looked likely to stay in the party’s hands with Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly leading his GOP challenger Blake Masters by around 5 points with about two-thirds of the vote reporting.
In Nevada, Democratic incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was trailing her Republican opponent, Adam Laxalt.
Even if Republicans pick up Nevada’s Senate seat, the Democrats can keep a majority if they hold onto Georgia.
The Associated Press confirmed Georgia’s Senate candidates, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker would indeed be headed to an early December run-off.
Republicans are still expected to win control of the House when all the votes are counted but there was no massive GOP victory, which is what Democrats feared.
Prior to the press conference the White House released a video montage of the president on the phone with various candidates.
Biden was visibly gleeful, offering his congratulations, telling them he’ll sleep better knowing they won, and saying to them: ‘God love ya.’ There was even a cameo by Commander Biden, the president’s dog.
After calling Democrats last night, the president made another round of congratulatory calls on Wednesday morning, including to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House, and a Republican: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
He also spoke with Rep. Matt Cartwright, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, and Rep.-elect Robert Garcia.
And he spoke with Kelly and Warnock, whose races have yet to be called.
Finally he talked to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and Representative Val Demings – both of whom lost their contests.
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