Democrats target health care, tariffs after midterm sweep
Why it matters: They will control Congress in January but still face Trump vetoes and Senate filibusters that could blunt price-cutting plans.
Congressional Democrats, fresh off sweeping midterm gains, are framing affordability as their governing mandate and preparing a January agenda built around lower health care costs, tariff rollbacks and tax relief for families. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have pointed to restoring more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies, reversing 2025 Medicaid cuts and scrapping Trump-era import taxes they argue are raising costs for groceries, fertilizer and building materials. Democrats also want more housing construction and higher taxes on billionaires, but their room to act is limited: they will run Congress without the numbers to override a presidential veto and will still have to navigate Senate filibusters.