Lame-Duck Congress Faces Dec. 11 Shutdown Deadline as Democrats Win Both Chambers

The U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C. (file photo). Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5).

Democrats will take control of both chambers of Congress in January, but the outgoing Republican majorities return to Washington on Nov. 9 with a lame-duck session that must deal with a Dec. 11 government funding deadline first. The Associated Press projected Democrats had secured at least 54 Senate seats late Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported, and Democrats also won control of the House, NBC Washington reported.

Where the election calls stand

Before Election Day, Republicans held the Senate 53-45, with two independents caucusing with Democrats, and held 218 House seats to Democrats’ 214, according to Yahoo News. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats in each chamber.

Several House races were still uncalled as of Thursday morning, so the size of the new Democratic majority is not yet final. Our national election tracker has the race-by-race results.

Two Senate races had not been called as of Thursday morning. CBS News reported Alaska’s contest between Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola remained tight, and Mississippi’s race between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom was too close to call, with affidavit ballots still being counted.

The Dec. 11 deadline and must-pass bills

Current federal funding expires Dec. 11, and Congress must pass new spending bills or another stopgap to avoid a shutdown, ABC News (Australia) reported. STAT reported that any health care legislation passed this year would almost certainly have to ride on that funding bill, and that Republicans also want to confirm several of President Trump’s health nominees before Democrats take over.

Pre-election previews laid out a long list. In October, No Labels said defense spending was the central funding dispute, with the administration seeking a record $1.5 trillion that Senate Democrats rejected. It also listed:

• The defense policy bill (NDAA): The House passed its version in July; the Senate has not reached the floor, according to Holland & Knight. Congress has passed an NDAA every year for more than six decades.
• The farm bill: The prior extension expired Sept. 30, with a Dec. 31 deadline before some programs revert to older permanent law.
• FISA Section 702: The surveillance authority has lapsed since June, though court approval keeps collection going into early 2027.
• Other items: permitting reform, a college sports bill the Senate passed 77-22, and a possible debt limit increase, which could be reached in February 2027.

Holland & Knight noted the Dec. 11 date also ends a surface transportation extension and National Flood Insurance Program authority, while a Medicare physician payment increase and several health programs expire Dec. 31. Track the votes as they happen on our Congress Tracker.

Leadership changes in the House

Speaker Mike Johnson is not seeking to stay on as House Republican leader in the new Congress and is expected to remain a rank-and-file member from Louisiana, Spectrum News reported. Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Steve Scalise both launched bids for minority leader on Wednesday, ABC News reported.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries sent colleagues a letter formally launching his bid for speaker. House Democrats hold closed-door leadership elections on Nov. 18, where Jeffries needs a simple majority of the caucus; he then needs 218 votes on the House floor in January. The speaker vote is expected among the first votes of the new Congress on Jan. 3, 2027, according to Spectrum News.

Senate leaders stake out positions

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he expects to be elected majority leader, NBC Washington reported. CBS News reported Schumer said Democrats would investigate and sue when they believe Trump defies the law, describing a strategy of “legislative razor wire.”

Majority Leader John Thune is expected to keep his conference’s support as Republican leader, CBS reported. Thune said in a post on X that Republicans would work with Trump to block Democratic efforts to undo GOP policy, and Whip John Barrasso said Republicans would focus on affordability. Several senators are leaving, including Mitch McConnell, Dick Durbin, Thom Tillis and Susan Collins, who lost her race. For more on the White House response, see our Trump presidency tracker.

Seat counts are as of Thursday morning, Nov. 5, and will change as remaining races are called. Agenda items listed above come partly from October previews and may shift once leaders set the lame-duck schedule.

Sources

• Al Jazeera: Democratic Party wins US Senate in 2026 midterm elections
• CBS News: 2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control
• Yahoo News: Midterms 2026 live updates
• ABC News (Australia): US midterm elections have given Democrats control of Congress. What now?
• STAT: A looming deadline to fund the government will shape Congress’ unusual lame duck session
• No Labels: The 2026 Lame-Duck Session: What Congress Still Has to Pass After the Midterms
• Holland & Knight: Beyond the Midterms: Congress Faces Converging Year-End Deadlines
• Spectrum News: Speaker Johnson won’t seek reelection as House GOP leader after midterm losses
• ABC News via ABC7: Midterm election 2026 live results
• NBC Washington: Live updates: Democrats win control of the House and Senate