Congress
Capitol agenda: House Democrats’ next big battle
A battle of the competing factions of a potential House Democratic majority is already underway.
An expected wave of both progressives and moderates in the midterms has members of both contingents feeling strongly that any 2026 gains would be proof that their wing of the party should dictate the legislative agenda ahead of 2028.
In private phone calls, group chats and strategy sessions, the left flank is plotting out how to leverage its expanding ranks, while centrists are scheming about how to act as a counterbalance.
“There’s going to be some real tension, because we have to move,” progressive Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois said in an interview. “Preserving perfect relationships with colleagues who don’t feel the urgency the way that some of us feel it, because we live it every day, isn’t my top priority. Protecting people is.”
The Congressional Progressive Caucus gathered incumbent and incoming members to Washington last month to strategize about how to advance their policy wishlist and to outline what Ramirez described as “non-negotiables.”
Likely members of the new liberal cohort — whichsome are calling “The Bloc” — all campaigned on ending U.S. aid to Israel, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and passing “Medicare for All.”
Because fewer progressives are running in competitive races this year, the left has had more breathing room to begin organizing its new members. But the more centrist collectives on Capitol Hill — like the New Democrat Coalition, the Blue Dog Caucus and Problem Solvers Caucus — are hoping to quickly catch up and have already sketched out governing agendas that hew closely to the campaign messages coming from top party leaders.
“Just like with the progressives, there have been conversations among moderates about our policy priorities, with a clear proactive agenda,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a veteran leader of the moderate wing. He said that he expects some of his colleagues on the left will push for “policy red lines that are too extreme and out of step with our democratic values.”
Members of the New Dems published a 65-page dossier in May pushing consensus bills that target lowering costs. And House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on track to be speaker in a new Democratic majority, has already previewed an early slate of bills that align closely with their vision — rolling back Republican-led Medicaid cuts, restoring expired Affordable Care Act subsidies and ending President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Still, both moderates and progressives boast that they have Jeffries’ ear and have lobbied him in recent months to take up their priorities.
What else we’re watching:
— WARREN EYES LEADERSHIP MOVE: Sen. Elizabeth Warren doesn’t want to be Senate Democratic leader next year, but she is looking at taking on a bigger role after the midterms. A person familiar with the Massachusetts Democrat’s thinking, granted anonymity to speak candidly, says “Warren will take a close look at Senate leadership opportunities, including the No. 3 slot.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar currently holds that spot, but is expected to win next week’s race to be governor of Minnesota, creating a vacancy.
— A CONTESTED RACE FOR GOP CONFERENCE CHAIR?: Chatter is building around whether anyone will challenge House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan for her leadership slot next year. And, according to three people granted anonymity to share private conversations, some Republicans are hoping McClain’s previous opponent, Rep. Kat Cammack, gets into the race. Four House Republicans granted anonymity to speak candidly said they doubt Cammack will actually mount a challenge, but the Florida Republican isn’t ruling it out.
— COMPANIES PREPARE FOR DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT: A broad range of tech, finance, crypto and industrial companies, panicking over the likely onslaught of partisan investigations if Democrats retake Congress, are hiring lobbyists and crisis communications experts to gird against the potential deluge of inquiries. They’re also seeking outside legal counsel to help avoid reputational damage as Democrats promise to scrutinize private-sector dealings with the Trump administration.
Riley Rogerson, Jordain Carney, Mia McCarthy, Daniel Barnes and Oliver Ward contributed to this report.