What Democrats' Senate majority means for the Mideast

Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez opposed the Iran nuclear deal and has been a proponent of the US recognizing the Armenian genocide.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 04: President-elect Joe Biden (C) rallys with Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate Jon Ossoff (L) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (R) the day before their runoff election in the parking lot of Center Parc Stadium January 04, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Biden's trip comes a day after the release of a recording of an hourlong call where President Donald Trump seems to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the votes he would need to reverse the presidential ele
President-elect Joe Biden (C) rallies with Democratic candidates for the US Senate Jon Ossoff (L) and the Rev. Raphael Warnock (R) the day before their runoff election in the parking lot of Center Parc Stadium on Jan. 4, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Adam Lucente
@Adam_Lucente

The Democratic Party now has a narrow majority in the US Senate following Joe Biden’s inauguration as president Wednesday. The shift from a Republican-controlled chamber will have effects on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and US policy in the Middle East.

There are 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats and two Independents (who caucus with Democrats).  Democrats possess a one-vote majority when taking into account the role of Vice President Kamala Harris, who also serves the role of 'president of the Senate.' This also allows Democrats the majority to claim the chairmanship of committees.  

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