Democrats won a blowout victory on Tuesday night, securing control of both chambers of Congress. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called the win the beginning of the great American comeback. However, the party now faces the difficult task of turning campaign promises—such as investigating corruption, lowering costs for healthcare and groceries, and curtailing the Iran war—into actual legislation.
US Senator Chris Coons warned the party against viewing the win as a mandate, noting that Democrats remain deeply unpopular. Coons stated that the party needs to prove it can actually deliver answers to concerns regarding low wages and rising costs.
Congress will have several tools to challenge President Trump. Congressman Robert Garcia of California will soon lead a powerful House oversight committee. In a statement on election night, Garcia told supporters to lawyer up, listing possible targets for investigation including Trump's family, corporate corruption, alleged abuses by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the government's handling of the Epstein files. Additionally, the Senate can block or confirm cabinet and judicial nominations, potentially forcing Trump to choose more moderate candidates for Supreme Court vacancies.
The House maintains the power to impeach the president. While Democrats impeached Trump twice during his first term, the US Senate acquitted him both times. Because a conviction requires a two-thirds majority—or 67 votes—Democrats are unlikely to reach that threshold. Jeffries has kept his stance on future impeachments vague, telling CNN in August that the party has not ruled anything in or out.
Legislative progress may be slowed by a Republican president. While Democrats can pass laws through Congress with a comfortable majority, Trump can veto most of them. Overriding a veto requires a supermajority that Democrats do not have. Trump’s attitude toward a Democratic Congress remains uncertain; he told the New York Times he would work something out with the Democrats, but later posted a picture of a campaign hat with "VETO" on it to Truth Social.
Internal and external obstacles also remain. Only 14% of registered voters approved of lawmakers' performance in an October Gallup poll. Casey Burgat, a professor at George Washington University, suggested that legislating will become more complicated with a Democratic Congress facing a Republican president.
Democrats also face potential internal fissures. For example, some incoming members like Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan expressed during the campaign a desire to curtail aid to Israel, which could face roadblocks from party leadership. Furthermore, while Congress passed a resolution in June to halt hostilities with Iran, Trump has essentially ignored it. Scott Anderson of the Brookings Institution noted that while the White House argues Trump has broad powers to continue the war, Congress' authority to force his hand is an open legal question that may require court litigation.
