Democratic leaders have been vague about what their legislative agenda would be if they won Congress, but they do have a long wish list that includes ending the Iran war and thwarting President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
asserted
that → win → tariffs
It’s unclear what Democrats will make their signature bill.
uncertain
Democrats → ’ → bill
But it’s likely to be an anti-corruption or affordability measure.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
The last time Democrats controlled Congress, during the Biden administration, their first bill was a sweeping voting rights bill that died in the Senate.
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that → control → Senate
Now that Democrats will have control of the House and Senate next year, they could pursue a reconciliation vehicle in which they would only need a majority to pass a top agenda item.
uncertain
they → have → item
Trump has vowed to use his veto power a lot with a Democratic majority, but the Left would probably adopt a divide-and-conquer strategy.
asserted
Left → vow → strategy
For example, Democrats are going to push for another Epstein files bill that has Republican support.
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that → go → support
They also could attract additional GOP backing for ending the Iran war and banning stock trades for government employees — including the executive branch.
uncertain
They → attract → branch
The following is a list of Democratic agenda items that will be under consideration next year.
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that → follow → consideration
Stopping the Iran war
Democrats can pressure Trump with war powers votes, but the White House, not Congress, has the steering wheel on foreign policy.
asserted
House → stop → policy
Democrats could try to withhold funds for the war effort, though a similar move on the Iraq war years ago didn’t work.
uncertain
move → try → war
Republicans on Capitol Hill have been frustrated with Trump’s love of tariffs, and legislation to stop them could get some Republicans on board.
uncertain
legislation → frustrate → board
However, Trump could veto anything that gets to his desk, and it’s unlikely that a veto would be overridden.
uncertain
veto → veto → desk
Impeachment
Democrats are united in their desire to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth, but divided on whether to impeach Trump for a third time.
asserted
Democrats → unite → time
Anti-corruption
A Democratic theme of the 2026 elections was fighting Trump corruption, and they will hammer that talking point repeatedly in the 120th Congress.
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they → fight → Congress
Attacking the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The signature GOP law will be a huge target, most notably its Medicaid spending reductions and reforms.
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law → attack → Act
Democrats want to pass Medicare for All and shore up Obamacare, both of which will be fought hard by the GOP.
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both → want → GOP
It remains to be seen if Democrats would have the votes to pass Medicare for All through Congress, as the bill has never passed either chamber.
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bill → remain → chamber
There is another Epstein bill that will be voted on in the lame-duck session, though Democrats won’t have control of Congress until January.
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Democrats → be → January
Democrats will hold oversight hearings and demand that more files be released.
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files → hold → hearings
This is a huge Democratic priority, though it has little chance to become law until a Democrat is in the White House.
asserted
Democrat → have → House
Money for Israel
Trump announced this week he is halting aid to Israel, but that won’t stop Democrats from pushing legislation on the matter next year.
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that → announce → matter
Codifying Roe v Wade
Democrats have previously moved legislation that would codify abortion rights, though it won’t have the support to pass the Senate unless Democrats eradicate the filibuster.
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Democrats → codify → filibuster
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Some on the Left want to abolish the immigration enforcement agency while others want to reform it.
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others → want → it
This could lead to a massive intraparty fight.
uncertain
This → lead → fight
Voting rights
Republicans pushed the SAVE America Act, and Democrats have their own voting reform legislation that doesn’t have 60 votes in the upper chamber.
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that → push → chamber
Regulation of AI and data centers will get a lot of attention in 2027.
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Regulation → get → 2027
Raising the minimum wage
This issue unites Democrats but will get pushback from small businesses.
PRO Act
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act is a huge priority for unions, and Democrats will push it again.
asserted
Democrats → raise → it
Reform of the Supreme Court
Trump won’t get a fourth justice on the high court, but some Democrats want to increase the number of justices, though they haven’t coalesced behind a bill to do that.
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they → get → that
Democrats lambasted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a giveaway to the rich.
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Democrats → lambast → rich
But they won’t repeal the whole thing as that would raise taxes on some middle-class families.
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that → repeal → families
Many Democrats want to raise the Social Security cap so that the wealthy “will pay their fair share.”
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wealthy → want → share
Yet, they haven’t yet defined what “wealthy” is since Kamala Harris lost in 2024.
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Harris → define → 2024
There is bipartisan legislation that would cap federal student loan interest rates, and this could be a rare situation where the parties work together.
uncertain
parties → be → rates
The Aporia
