Over the past eight years, the split between the Democrats and the Republicans has not only affected our government, but all American citizens. Everyone seemed to have to pick a “side” and stick to that “team.”

   Throughout the last year, however, there has been some shift in American politics back to “normalcy.” Bipartisanship is the cooperation between the parties – coming to the middle, “giving up this” to “get that.” 

   For years, the government has been struggling with bipartisanship. After the election of President Trump in 2016, it has become more evident. But what has changed under President Joe Biden? 

   After the election in 2020, a total of five “red” states flipped to “blue” – Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. Those states were classified as Republican, but now are considered Democratic.

   Even after the midterm election, did it seem the Republican party was falling apart? This seemed especially evident after Republican Representative, Kevin McCarthy, failed six times to secure enough votes to be elected Speaker of the House. 

   McCarthy struggled to secure votes from fellow members of the Republican party, with some of the members saying they have been “highly critical of the California Republican.” Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stuck with Kevin McCarthy, talked about her fellow Republicans who didn’t vote for McCarthy saying she was “furious” with her colleagues for not backing Kevin McCarthy. 

   The ‘division’ in the party seems to be affecting the entire government; especially when fights within the party break out. After four days of undecided voting, Friday, January 6th, a confrontation broke out within the Republican Party. 

   It started as Republican Matt Gaetz refused to vote for Republican Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House. Kevin McCarthy went to ask for his vote once again but she denied, to which Republican House member Mike Rogers went to confront Gaetz. The situation ended with Mr. Rogers having to be physically restrained by others in the party. 

   With the 2024 election next year, the Republicans have a lot of work to get their party ready. The party is undecided on their elected candidate. So far, a few possible candidates have emerged: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis. 

    There is still time, however, for more to launch their campaigns.