A new group of senators from both parties will vote on how to save Social Security. Here’s what they’ve said about it

Seventeen newcomers from both parties are set to join the next Congress, bringing a new group of lawmakers into one of Washington’s most persistent policy challenges: determining how Social Security can continue paying full benefits.

A changed Senate landscape

The incoming class follows a strong showing by Democrats on Tuesday. The party flipped seven Senate seats in states that had been held by Republicans and won control of the chamber. Republicans, meanwhile, will also welcome new members.

Together, the 17 newcomers will enter Congress as lawmakers confront an issue that has repeatedly been avoided in Washington. The central question is how to maintain full Social Security benefits, making the program a significant test for the next Congress.

Why the issue matters

Social Security’s future will require attention from senators on both sides of the aisle. The composition of the incoming class means the debate will involve lawmakers from both parties, even as the Senate’s political control changes.

The new members are not arriving in a routine policy environment. Their first major responsibilities will include taking on a problem that has remained unresolved and determining how the government can keep benefits fully funded for recipients.

What comes next

The next Congress will be responsible for addressing the Social Security challenge. The new Senate class will therefore play a role in deciding how lawmakers respond to the need to preserve full benefits.

The election results have changed who will lead the chamber, but the underlying policy problem remains: Social Security must continue paying full benefits, and Congress has yet to settle how to achieve that.