Now that the Democrats have taken control of Congress, expect limited action on the legislative front. While Trump’s agenda and his appointments are certainly stymied, the President still has a veto, so nothing happens unless the President wants it to happen.
But that’s not the story you should keep an eye on.
Instead, look out for the influence Congressional Democrats will have on the Democratic presidential primary, which begins now. Recall the last time there was a contested Democratic presidential primary, in 2019 and 2020, a record 29 Democratic candidates declared presidential runs.
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The earliest was on August 10, 2017, when former Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) jumped the gun and became the first declared candidate, way before the 2018 midterm was held. He was followed by Andrew Yang, who also announced the year prior to the mid-term. They were followed by Elizabeth Warren’s announcement of her exploratory committee in December 2018. Before January 2019 was over, six more candidates jumped in, including Kamala Harris. Bernie Sanders announced in February 2019 and eventual winner, Joe Biden, entered in late April.
Get ready for a repeat this cycle. The 2027-2028 race will kick off now, and it’s likely there will be more than 20 Democratic candidates in the running.
Just as Donald Trump in 2015 broke the Republican Party and ushered in a populist era, the Democratic Party, even after this 2026 win, is about to break. The old Democratic Party is receding, as the newly ascendant, redistributive socialists and progressives push to get their way.
Look for Democrats to push the envelope everywhere. Compromising with Trump is not in the Democrats’ DNA, especially not after the rout the GOP just suffered. The Democrats’ significant majorities won’t shield them from the energy the left has on the party. Democrats run as moderates, but then govern from the left. See Jon Ossoff in Georgia. James Talarico and Abdul el Sayed are not going to vote purple. They’re as blue as you get.
It won’t matter next year if their legislation doesn’t have enough votes to overcome a veto. Passing laws isn’t the goal. Preparing for 2028 is.
The Democrats in 2027 will step into the on-deck circle of governance and politics. If they go too far, they’ll get hit by their own pitch.
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Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE and cutting off support for Israel are catnip for the Democrats. They will be Democratic priorities, even if the votes aren’t there. Democratic presidential contenders will call on Congress to pass these measures, and Congressional leaders will be pressured by rank and file to take them up.
The filibuster will likely be eliminated, allowing for passage of an expansion of the Supreme Court, statehood for Democratic strongholds, and nationwide billionaire and millionaire taxes. They’ll get vetoed, but in failing, the Democrats will seek to set themselves up for future legislative success.
When President Reagan in 1980 ran on supply-side tax cuts, he supported what, at that time, had been unsuccessful legislative initiatives launched by former Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY) and Senator William Roth (R-DE) to cut taxes in the late 1970s.
President Obama’s push for Obamacare was made possible by years of Democrats in the House and Senate who unsuccessfully pushed for expansion of health insurance in the individual marketplace, while prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on a patient’s prior medical condition.
President Trump’s success in shutting down illegal immigration was made possible by years of Republicans calling for President Obama to secure the border. Obama didn’t do it, but Republicans were ready, and they supported President Trump when he did.
Congress’ mad dash to the left will create a mutual admiration society between the most ardent left-wingers in the House and Senate and the party’s presidential candidates. Candidates will call on the Congress to pass left wing measures so they can define themselves to primary voters, and Members of the House will endorse candidates who support their cause.
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The few remaining voices of moderation and centrism among the Democrats will be overrun. They’ll be stampeded as the new Congress takes shape, with Socialists on the ascendancy and progressives in charge. President Trump ended the reign of establishment Republicans in 2016. An equivalent shift will take place among Democrats in 2027 and 2028.
The further left the Democrats go in 2027, the harder it will be for them to actually win the White House in 2028. But their leftward lurching ship has been launched. Good luck stopping it now.