House and Senate majorities give the party subpoena power, a 100-day affordability push and a check on Trump's second term as a lame-duck session begins
Democrats won the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms and will take control on Jan. 3. They hold at least 54 Senate seats, with Alaska and Mississippi still uncalled, and passed the 218-seat House threshold. Hakeem Jeffries is set to become the first Black speaker; Chuck Schumer will run the Senate floor.
Congress returned Nov. 9 for a lame-duck session, with government funding first on the list to avoid a December shutdown. Democrats are preparing subpoena-backed investigations into Trump family business dealings, the Epstein case and the immigration crackdown. Trump ordered the Justice Department to examine what he called Democratic impeachment threats and said his deportation policy 'might have been too tough.'
Why it matters
Democratic subpoena power will let Congress investigate Trump's family, immigration policy and the Epstein case while blocking his nominees.
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Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.
Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.
"They have won the House and Senate, and now promise to fix prices and pursue justice. It sounds like a new romance—all thrilling vows until the first morning after."
The U.S. Democratic Party won both chambers in the 2026 midterms.
The Republican Party lost both chambers in the 2026 midterms.
Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.
The committee investigates government operations and executive branch conduct.
The Senate confirms nominees and controls its floor schedule.
The administration will face a Democratic Congress in January.
The Justice Department enforces federal law and handles congressional oversight requests.
2026 November 2026
Lawmakers returned with government funding first on the list, to avert a shutdown in December.
A group led by Senator Ron Johnson asked to postpone elections scheduled for Nov. 10 so candidates could explain how they would lead after the midterm losses.
In a CBS '60 Minutes' interview, Trump said his immigration policies were 'too tough' and that mass deportations hurt Republicans in the midterms.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department would address subpoenas and letters from Congress and would not stop working with lawmakers.
Trump said on Truth Social that Democrats were threatening impeachment of Republican officials and called it 'extortion at the highest level.'
Trump named Miller chief of staff, according to CBS News. House Oversight Democrat Robert Garcia later named Miller among planned investigation targets.
The projection follows the House win and gives Democrats full control of Congress.
Schumer says the party will lower costs, end corruption and end chaos.
Party leaders said their first bills would target gas and grocery prices and reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, alongside oversight hearings.
The top Democrat on Senate Finance said the committee will pursue a billionaire tax, healthcare expansion and accountability for corporate executives.
Trump told reporters the Iran conflict affected the midterms and later threatened to veto Democratic legislation after suggesting he could work with the party.
Democrats flip at least seven Senate seats and more than two dozen House districts.
A state many Democrats thought out of reach flipped, signaling a broad Republican loss.
After results, Trump wrote on social media that Republicans lost because he was not on the ballot.
Robert Garcia, set to chair House Oversight, singled out Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski, Kristi Noem and Trump family members for investigation.
Voters named the Iran war among the key issues behind their votes, according to the NBC News exit poll.
Discussed by: NBC News and House Democratic leadership schedule
House Democrats expect to nominate Jeffries in the week of Nov. 16. On Jan. 3, he needs 218 votes on the floor. Democrats won at least 218 House seats, according to NBC News.
Discussed by: House Oversight Committee Democrats
Robert Garcia has said he will investigate Trump family corruption, including foreign payments and crypto ventures. He also named Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem as targets. A subpoena would be the first formal step.
Discussed by: NBC News and Senate Democrats
Before the election, multiple Senate Democrats questioned whether they would confirm any Trump Supreme Court nominee. With a majority, they can reject one.
Discussed by: President Trump
Trump threatened to use his veto to strike down Democrats' agenda after saying he could work with them. Democrats need his signature or a two-thirds override vote, which their majorities are unlikely to provide.
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
Republicans won the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years, powered by the Contract with America. Newt Gingrich became speaker and pushed a conservative legislative agenda.
President Bill Clinton shifted toward smaller policies and fought Republican budget cuts.
The standoff led to two government shutdowns in 1995 and 1996, setting a pattern for divided government.
Shows how a midterm wave can give the opposition both chambers and set up clashes with a president.
Democrats won the House and Senate amid the Iraq War and President George W. Bush's low approval ratings. Bush called the result 'a thumping.'
Democrats launched oversight investigations into the Bush administration.
The win helped set up the 2008 presidential race and showed how subpoena power can shape a president's final two years.
Direct parallel: an unpopular Republican president in his second term lost both chambers, and Democrats used subpoena power.
Democrats won the House but not the Senate during Trump's first term. They gained subpoena power and launched investigations into his administration and businesses.
The House impeached Trump in 2019 over his dealings with Ukraine.
The Senate acquitted Trump, and the episode showed the limits of controlling only one chamber.
Shows what Democrats could do with only the House; 2026 gives them the Senate too.