House Democrats feel confident heading into 2026, having made headway in elections this year, as they shift their focus to affordability.
After Democrats had sweeping wins in the November election and gained over 10 points in the Tennessee special election, the party is feeling confident that the midterm elections will go their way as they continue to message on healthcare and affordability.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) told the Washington Examiner that Democrats “saw it coming,” saying people are feeling a lot more “encouraged.”
House Majority PAC National press secretary Katarina Flicker told the Washington Examiner, “It’s clear: No House Republican’s reelection should be considered safe next November.”
“National Republicans were forced to pull out all the stops, spending nearly $4 million and investing in a massive turnout operation, all to salvage their candidate in a district that voted for [President Donald] Trump by 22% last year. This should be a five alarm fire for the GOP,” Flicker continued.
GOP Rep.-elect Matt Van Epps led Democrat Aftyn Behn by 9 points in the Tennessee special election this week to replace former Rep. Mark Green. Trump won this district by 22 points and Green by 21 points last year.
“I think the fact that a Republican is only leading by 9 points in a deep red district that went R+22 in the 2024 election speaks for itself,” a Democratic staffer told the Washington Examiner. “Americans are concerned about the cost of living, and campaigns that are focused on these issues are resonating with voters.”
The staffer continued, “While the administration deals with scandal after scandal and Republicans in Congress refuse to act, Democrats have a real opportunity to make the case to voters that they can deliver on affordability. We have seen this everywhere from New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and now Tennessee.”
This is not the only recent election where Democrats made headway, giving the base more confidence after their massive loss in 2024. Gubernatorial elections in both Virginia and New Jersey showed a swing toward the Left, as did New York City, which elected socialist Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor.
“We’re just putting out the problem in front of people, showing them what’s going on, and they’re seeing Donald Trump and the Republicans not able to come up with a solution to it,” Frost told the Washington Examiner.
Both Govs.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) focused many of their talking points on affordability, as did Mamdani. Sherrill led “the affordability agenda” during her campaign, outlining her plan to bring down costs for healthcare, energy, housing, and food.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) told the Washington Examiner she feels “very good” and “very strong” about where the party is because “of what we’re focused on, which is the cost of living and affordability, which the president says is a hoax.”
“Housing, electricity, groceries, healthcare, all of those things, people can’t [afford them],” DeLauro added. “They’re living paycheck to paycheck, that is what’s driving the Democrats.”
While Democrats bask in the glory of recent elections, House Republicans haven’t done themselves any favors with party infighting. A handful of GOP women turned their backs on leadership for various reasons, as many members have pledged to introduce discharge petitions as part of an effort to schedule votes on their own agenda items.
Fight over affordability comes into focus
Democrats say their focus lies in affordability, and so do Republicans.
Republicans have slammed Democrats for their “failing” healthcare plan, while they champion President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act that passed earlier this year.
“Republicans have been delivering and working to bring down costs for American families, to fix the Democrats’ broken healthcare system, and to rid our streets of violent criminals and dangerous illegal aliens,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said this week at a press conference. “All this has been our goal since January, and we’ve been delivering. And as the year comes to an end, we started to reflect upon what we’ve done in that first 10 months, and ultimately the first 12 months. And it’s really something.”
Democrats continue to message on Medicaid following the passage of Trump’s megabill. From the onset, Democrats labeled the legislation the “Big, Ugly Law,” as they held hundreds of events across the country to say that Medicaid cost savings would kick millions of people off their healthcare. Democrats plan to stick to their plan of slamming the bill, even though the tightening of Medicaid eligibility won’t kick in until after the 2026 elections, aiming to maintain a united front on healthcare policy ahead of the midterm elections.
While the House currently has the slimmest margin in history, Democrats remain on the defensive, with 37 seats rated as competitive compared to the 29 GOP seats marked as competitive. Historically, the House flips to the party opposite the White House during midterm elections, as it has for the last five presidencies.
DEFIANT FEMALE LAWMAKERS ARE LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
Both parties have continuously pushed back on the other, slamming the opposite’s plan on both affordability and healthcare. Still, despite the pushback from the GOP, the Left feels confident with 2026 right around the corner.
“If Democrats remain laser-focused on these kitchen table issues, they have a real chance to not only flip the House but also challenge the Republicans’ Senate Majority,” the staffer concluded.
