Democrats face limits on campaign pledges despite winning Congress

Democrats have won both chambers of Congress in the United States midterm elections, giving them new powers to challenge President Donald Trump. But fulfilling campaign promises on living costs, the war on Iran and immigration will depend on overcoming significant obstacles. Their majorities take effect in January, and most legislation needs 60 Senate votes to overcome a filibuster. Trump has already threatened to veto their bills.

Affordability was central to Tuesday’s election. Dean Baker, an economist and cofounder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said pressing for an end to the Iran war could help reduce costs. The conflict has pushed energy prices higher since February as Iran restricted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Baker said congressional scrutiny could pressure the administration to end the fighting, potentially attracting Republican support.

Healthcare offers another possible opening for cooperation, Baker said. Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired in 2025, leaving many Americans with higher insurance premiums. Democrats could seek to restore them and undo Medicaid cuts through government spending legislation that Congress needs to approve. Reversing Trump’s tariffs could prove harder, requiring substantial Republican backing to overcome a veto. Alex Jacquez of Groundwork Collaborative said congressional investigations could also pressure companies over price increases, although lower prices would not be guaranteed.

Investigations are likely to become a major focus, according to Laura Blessing, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute. Democrats have signalled plans to examine the Trump family’s wealth. Financial disclosures released earlier this year showed that Trump’s personal fortune had increased by about $2.2bn since his term began. His family’s businesses have also expanded into industries favoured by administration policies, including cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.

Democratic senators have asked companies and government departments to preserve records for possible inquiries. Potential subjects include government treatment of White House ballroom donors and whether the Justice Department targeted Trump’s political opponents. Officials could challenge subpoenas in court, slowing investigations, while any resulting legal cases would depend on decisions by Trump’s Justice Department. Impeachment is also possible, but removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote and therefore substantial Republican support.

On Iran, Democrats could pursue a binding resolution to end the conflict, though Trump could veto it. They could also try to deny further war funding while the administration continues spending money already approved. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft said that could limit how long the war continues. David Janovsky of the Project on Government Oversight said investigations into wartime conduct could increase its political costs without directly restricting military operations.

Whether Democrats will withhold military funding remains uncertain. Blessing said the party has historically feared accusations that doing so would undermine US troops. Parsi argued that failing to use their powers to stop the conflict could leave Democrats sharing political responsibility for it.

Immigration enforcement presents similar choices. Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, said congressional inquiries could examine detention conditions, abuse allegations and taxpayer spending. A poll earlier this year found that 65 percent of Americans believed Immigration and Customs Enforcement had gone too far.

Altman also urged lawmakers to reclaim roughly $240bn provided for immigration enforcement over the past two years, arguing that substantial budget reductions would force the agency to prioritise its activities. Such a move would require legislation vulnerable to a presidential veto. Nevertheless, she said Democrats should advance bills and require Trump to decide whether to reject them.