Democrats grapple with Trump investigations and affordability agenda after midterm win
After securing control of both chambers, Democrats must balance oversight of President Donald Trump with efforts to address rising costs and health care.
Washington – Democrats celebrated winning control of the House and Senate on Nov. 3, but face a strategic choice between pursuing investigations of President Donald Trump and advancing an affordability agenda aimed at easing inflation-driven pressures on voters.
Incoming House Oversight Committee chair Robert Garcia opened the new session with a terse "Lawyer up," signalling an aggressive oversight stance. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced five working groups to focus on health care, housing, groceries, energy and caregiving during the first 100 days.
The agenda includes restoring Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, reversing Medicaid work-requirement cuts introduced by the July 2025 tax law, and rolling back tariffs. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, "We have to put the oxygen mask on the country first. One of the first orders of business is saving Medicaid."
Voter surveys conducted by the Associated Press indicated that roughly two-thirds of respondents believed Trump’s policies worsened the economy, and seven in ten felt Congress was not doing enough to check presidential power. Yet only about half of all voters expressed a favorable view of the Democratic Party, underscoring the mixed mandate.
Democrats also plan to use their oversight powers to investigate alleged corruption involving the Trump family, immigration enforcement practices and other corporate misconduct. House Republican Thomas Massie has threatened an impeachment vote against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, highlighting the potential for bipartisan scrutiny.
Analysts caution that the party’s ability to deliver substantive relief will be limited by President Trump’s veto power and the lack of a two-thirds supermajority needed to override it. Strategist Douglas Heye warned that internal infighting could undermine the party’s legislative agenda ahead of the 2028 election.