Democrats weigh how to deliver after midterm victories

Democrats gathered after their sweeping midterm victories with a question that celebration could not answer: How quickly can they deliver for voters who put them in power?

At the “What’s Next” conference, hosted by Majority Democrats, lawmakers, organizers and potential presidential contenders pressed for action on the cost of living while debating investigations, party leadership and whether to work with President Donald Trump. The Guardian reported that the party’s wins gave it sizable majorities in both chambers of Congress and expanded its control of governorships and state legislatures.

“We must deliver immediate, bold relief during this affordability crisis,” said James Talarico, the senator-elect from Texas. Hakeem Jeffries, the presumptive next House speaker, called for action on the costs of groceries, gas and housing.

Jeffries outlined plans to reverse Medicaid cuts, ban congressional stock trading and mid-decade redistricting, establish a statutory right to abortion and overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, NPR reported. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged Democrats to begin with a rapid series of bills aimed at lowering living costs while planning for the longer term.

But the party has not settled how much attention to devote to investigating the Trump administration. Iowa Gov.-elect Rob Sand said he would rather focus on tangible economic relief than investigate matters already reported in the media. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, who is expected to lead the House Judiciary Committee, said lawmakers could do both, according to The Guardian.

Democrats also differed over cooperation with Trump. “The American people cannot wait two years for change, so we must work with President Trump,” Talarico said. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said she would accept Trump taking credit for legislation if that helped it pass. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill warned that Trump would not negotiate in good faith and said Democrats should set the agenda for him to sign.

Despite the wins, speakers cautioned against treating the results as a lasting endorsement. “It took us decades to dig ourselves in a hole and to push people away from us, and it’s going to take us more than one cycle to earn that trust,” Colorado Rep. Jason Crow told NPR. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval put it more sharply: “Last week, they gave us one more chance to come around to them.”

North Carolina Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton challenged the party to invest more in the South, Black voters and rural communities. “Rural America deserves the investment from the Democratic Party and we must run towards communities that our party has run away from,” she said.

Those tensions surfaced at the gathering. The Guardian reported that leftist protesters interrupted Jeffries, while demonstrators outside called for new Senate leadership and voiced support for Palestine. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen is challenging longtime leader Chuck Schumer for the Senate’s top Democratic post; Slotkin said she would not vote for Schumer.

The conference also drew several possible 2028 presidential contenders, including Buttigieg, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and California Rep. Ro Khanna. None announced a campaign. Van Hollen, previously considering a White House bid, told reporters he was no longer doing so as he pursued Senate leadership.