What can Democrats actually do now they have won Congress?

Voters handed Democrats both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterms, ending Republican control for the last two years of Donald Trump's term. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become majority leader in the House, where Democrats passed the 218-seat mark after taking seats in Republican-held districts. Republicans can no longer move bills through that chamber without Democratic votes, according to The Guardian.

The new majority gains subpoena power: it can demand documents and testimony and keep senior administration officials under steady scrutiny. In the Senate, Democrats can slow or block nominees, including judges and cabinet members, and the White House will have to bargain over legislation.

Several investigations look likely. Representative Robert Garcia, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, wants to start with the finances of Trump's relatives, while Representative Jamie Raskin has sought information about Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. Representative Jason Crow plans to examine Pentagon spending tied to companies connected to the Trump family. The Justice Department's incomplete release of Jeffrey Epstein files could also draw attention. Impeachment is open as well: Jeffries has excluded nothing, and Steve Scalise expects a move immediately.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →