WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress gained the power Tuesday night to more forcefully investigate President Trump and rein in his agenda, setting up confrontations that are likely to define the final two years of his presidency. As party leaders on Wednesday celebrated retaking the House and Senate, they vowed to put Trump and his administration on the defensive with subpoenas and hearings, a role that voters made clear they want them to play. But they also said the top priority would be the issue that carried them to power: making life more affordable.
Chuck Schumer, who is poised to become Senate majority leader, said at a news conference. Schumer’s fellow New Yorker and the House Democratic leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, echoed those priorities on CNN: “We ran on affordability, we won decisively on affordability, and now we have a responsibility to govern on affordability.” With power split between the legislative and executive branches, to what degree Washington avoids gridlock will depend on how Trump wields his veto pen and how the Democrats negotiate with him — and how they follow through on pledges to investigate what they called a corrupt administration.
They can send over 50 different, great bills that they’re all excited about, and I send them back with a nice stamp veto.” Trump added that he has “friends” in the Democratic Party and is willing to make deals. Schumer argued that the Democrats’ decisive victories show the president’s weakness and give them legislative leverage, and he warned Republicans against resisting their agenda. After four years out of power, House Democrats plan to carry out plans they have spent months mapping out — investigating the Trump family’s business dealings, allegedly corrupt deals by administration officials and suspected abuses by federal immigration agents.
In a sign of what is to come, Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote on X: “LAWYER UP.” Democrats also intend to summon top Cabinet officials to testify on many hot-button issues, such as the war in Iran. They could also could bring oil, insurance, pharmaceutical and other industries under congressional scrutiny.
That oversight tactic could help Democrats push on lowering costs regardless of whether they can get Trump to sign legislation. The Democrat majorities in both chambers are substantial. In the Senate, where Republicans held a 53-to-47 majority going into Tuesday, Democrats have won 54 seats to Republicans’ 44 as of Wednesday, according to projections.
In the House, Republicans entered the election with 218 seats to Democrats 214. Now, Democrats have 232 seats, well past the 218 needed for a majority, and some races remain undecided. The Senate majority hands Democrats the ability to block his judicial and other nominations — including appointments to the Supreme Court.
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