New House Majority Targets Tariffs, War Powers, and Health Subsidies

Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate in a midterm rout, giving them the authority to execute a legislative agenda they promised would lower costs and combat corruption. The party now faces the task of uniting a fractious caucus around specific actions in the first 100 hours of the new Congress.

The immediate priorities include restoring enhanced Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts that are set to take effect under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. Lawmakers also intend to reassert congressional authority over tariffs and force votes on war powers resolutions to end the conflict in Iran. These measures enjoy near-total agreement within the Democratic ranks.

Despite holding substantial margins in both chambers, the party operates within a divided government. Senate legislation still requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and President Trump has shifted between threatening vetoes and expressing openness to cooperation. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senator-Elect from Michigan, stated he wants the party to pass legislation quickly, noting that a veto would put the burden on the President.

Molly Reynolds, a congressional expert at the Brookings Institution, observed that wave elections often remove moderate Republicans from their seats. This dynamic leaves Democrats with a large majority but facing a more conservative Republican conference. Reynolds noted that tools like withholding war funding through the appropriations process will require compromise across the aisle.

House Speaker-elect Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Wednesday that the new majority will usher in bold and dramatic change. To prepare, House Democrats organized working groups this fall to address the costs of gas, groceries, utilities, housing, and caregiving. Each group is led by two members: one from the progressive wing and one from the center.

Internal debates remain about the pace of reform. Brian Schatz of Hawaii argued that bold policy changes should wait for 2028, focusing instead on stabilizing the country now. Greg Casar of Texas, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, countered that the election was not about returning to the status quo. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, maintained that candidates across the spectrum delivered the same core message.

The new majority includes many moderate Democrats who flipped conservative districts in states like Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina. Will Lawrence, newly elected from a Republican-held district in Michigan, said voters want action to end the Iran war and halt tax dollars going to Israel. Brad Schneider, chair of the New Democrats caucus, warned the party against overpromising at the risk of underdelivering.

Greg Stanton, chair of the New Democrat Coalition, said Jeffries has the flexibility to lead without the pressure of a narrow majority. The party now begins the work of translating campaign promises into enacted law before the pressure of high voter expectations mounts.