House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 13, 2026, as Congress approaches a midnight Friday deadline for a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security.
Annabelle Gordon Reuter
As they gathered in northern Virginia for their annual policy advocacy meeting on Wednesday, House Democrats rallied as if they were on the brink of victory.
“House Democrats are on the verge of takeover. It’s over for MAGA extremists,” Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D.N.Y.) said at a leadership press conference to begin the retreat. “It’s over because people know that Donald Trump and the House Republicans have failed the American people.”
Jeffries and his Democratic colleagues have had a tough time this Congress, with House Republicans holding a slim majority. They see a path back to power in this year’s midterm elections by focusing on affordability and the economy, themes they say President Trump has largely ignored.
Much of the three-day policy withdrawal focused on the cost of living issue. Guests include labor union leaders, representatives from the Black Economic Alliance and the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman who delivered the Democratic rebuttal to Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
Democrats plan to spend time together away from the Capitol to hone their message to voters and unite around themes they think will resonate with ordinary Americans.
“Does the president work for you?” Spanberger asked during his speech, arguing that President Trump’s policies are harming average Americans.
“This is the stark contrast of the midterm elections: Republicans have broken promises to cut costs, while Democrats are focused on cutting costs for hardworking families trying to make ends meet,” said Rep. Susan DelBene, D-Wash., who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and was responsible for leading the party to the House majority.
But victory is not guaranteed. Trump and the Republican Party are making their own aggressive pitch on affordability. They also have a cash advantage this cycle.
And it is rolling out a series of election proposals, including voter identification requirements and changes to mail-in voting that Democrats say could disenfranchise millions of people. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s pending decision on a challenge to parts of the Voting Rights Act that, if upheld, could eliminate some Democratic-held districts, Republicans are not out of the picture in November.
Still, Democrats have reason to be optimistic. Recent polls have shown that many Americans are dissatisfied with President Trump, with 60% disapproving of the president in a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll. And Democrats maintain a healthy lead in the popular vote. They also need to win just three seats to flip the House.
“President Trump wants to hijack the election. He will continue to tweet and issue executive orders. President Trump and Republican governors may do other untoward things to influence our elections,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
“What we can control is communicating a message that resonates with people, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Aguilar said.
