237 Seats: Democrats Secure House Majority to Target Gas and Food Costs
New leaders vow to lower prices and challenge the Iran war funding as the party gains control of Congress.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
Democratic leaders secured control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, a victory they plan to use to lower the cost of gas, food, and housing. The party took at least 237 House seats as of Wednesday afternoon, giving them the numerical strength to override presidential vetoes on key spending bills.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next House speaker, announced his candidacy for the role on Wednesday. He stated that the election results mandate a focus on governing for affordability. “We ran on affordability, we won on affordability and now it is our job to govern on affordability,” Jeffries said.
The new majority faces immediate hurdles in implementing these goals. President Donald Trump, who started the eight-month conflict with Iran in 2025, has largely bypassed Congress in executing the war. Experts note that the Democrats lack the supermajority needed to block all presidential vetoes, meaning their strategy will rely on checking executive power and making incremental changes to tax and spending policies.
Christopher Bosso, a professor emeritus of public policy at Northeastern University, predicted the next two years will focus on keeping the president in check. He noted that the Democratic gains mirror the 1974 elections, when voters rejected the incumbent party following the Watergate scandal. This margin allows the party to express internal disagreements without failing to pass major legislation, according to Costas Panagopoulos, a distinguished professor of political science at the same university.
The incoming House Democrats have outlined a 100-day agenda that includes restoring ACA subsidies, reversing Medicaid cuts, and rolling back tariffs. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan has called for Medicare for All and stricter food industry regulation to prevent supply chain disruptions that drive up grocery prices.
The war in Iran remains a central issue for the new Congress. Many Democrats argue the conflict is proceeding without proper congressional authorization. Panagopoulos said the House must assert its constitutional authority to fund or end the war. “Congress has to fund this war, and they also have to assert their constitutional authority to enable it to continue if they choose to,” he said.
Internal party unity will be a test for Jeffries. Panagopoulos pointed out that the incoming majority contains wide differences in policy and ideology. He warned that it will not be easy to keep the group aligned. “It’s not going to be easy to keep everyone in line,” Panagopoulos said.
Voters also signaled a desire for accountability, with allegations of corruption in the Trump administration contributing to the election outcome. Panagopoulos suggested the House may launch investigations into the president and his family. He advised the party to work on affordability and accountability in parallel to avoid alienating moderate voters.
The shift in congressional control also impacts foreign policy. Marianna Griffini, an assistant professor at Northeastern University London, said Democrats may steer the Iran war away from aggressive tactics. She noted this could have a positive effect on the economies of the European Union and the United Kingdom. Josephine Harmon, also at Northeastern London, said the new Congress could pass sanctions targeting the Russian economy, such as the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.
Trump retains substantial power through executive orders, which do not require legislative approval. Griffini noted that lawmakers must still operate within the reality of his executive authority. Harmon added that while changes are expected in the near term, the largest impacts on US-EU relations may not materialize until after the 2028 presidential election.
