Democrats took Congress overnight, but Ukraine isn’t their top-three priority: What midterm win really means for Kyiv

Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate in the 2022 midterms, with 54 Senate seats compared to the Republicans' 44, according to NBC News projections on November 4. This shift in power offers Ukraine's supporters a chance to reevaluate stalled legislation, including a $8 billion aid and sanctions bill. However, the new majority does not automatically guarantee increased assistance.

Oleksandr Kraiev, North America Program Director at Ukrainian Prism, cautioned that the Democrats are not an inherently pro-Ukrainian party; they have specific members who advocate for Ukraine. Moreover, bills would require the support of a majority in both chambers, though Democrats already have some leverage through candidate introductions and proposed bills.

The administration, led by President Trump, retains veto power, making it difficult to override vetoes. Ukraine is not a high priority for the incoming Democratic majority, with issues like Iran, migration, and the economy likely to take precedence.