Jeffries Says “America Is Back” as House Democrats Plan Trump Investigations and a Tariff Rollback

The U.S. Capitol in Washington (file photo). Photo: Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

House Democrats will use their new majority to investigate the Trump administration and press to undo some of its signature policies, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said after the party was projected to win control of the House in Tuesday’s midterm elections, CBS News reported. Jeffries, in line to become speaker, told supporters “America is back.”

What Democrats say they will do

Jeffries has listed four priorities for the new majority, according to CBS News:

• Reverse Medicaid cuts
• Extend the expired Affordable Care Act premium tax credits
• End the Iran war
• Roll back President Donald Trump’s tariffs

Democrats also gain control of federal spending bills in the House. CBS News reported that they could use that power to withhold money from administration priorities and to press officials to testify or turn over records.

Investigations start in January

House committees get subpoena power when the new Congress convenes in January. Reps. Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin are expected to lead inquiries into:

• Trump family business dealings
• Immigration enforcement
• The Epstein matter
• Presidential pardons
• Rushed construction projects in Washington, D.C.

Jeffries said Democrats have not decided whether to pursue a third impeachment of Trump and have not ruled it out, CBS News reported.

How big the majority will be

NBC News projected that Democrats will win at least 244 of the 435 seats, GV Wire reported. Before the election, Republicans held 218 seats and Democrats 214, with one independent and two vacancies. Several close races were still being counted Wednesday, so the final margin is not set. Jeffries would be the first Black speaker of the House, WSLS reported.

Full race-by-race results are on our 2026 election tracker, and our overview of the Democratic sweep covers the seven Senate seats that flipped.

Republicans respond

Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans would not be deterred by one election. He warned that Americans would suffer if Democrats spend the next two years on what he called retribution and partisan games, CBS News reported.

What happens next

The current Republican-led Congress remains in session through the end of the year. The 120th Congress, with Democrats in charge of both chambers, takes office Jan. 3, 2027. Markets were also weighing the result: our markets report tracks how stock futures reacted overnight.

Sources

• CBS News: Democrats, retaking House majority, aim to derail Trump’s agenda
• GV Wire: Democrats to win control of House, NBC News projects
• WSLS: Jeffries poised to become first Black speaker