Democrats Prioritize Affordability After House Win

Rep. Suzan DelBene says the party will focus on lowering costs and health care now that Democrats control the House.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Child Care

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of plain milk bottles, a loaf of bread, and loose coins on a wooden counter, evoking everyday household cost pressures. — Democrats who won the House majority in the 2026 midterms say they will focus first on lowering costs for housing, food, health care, child care, and energy, led by Rep. Suzan DelBene. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democrats gained a House majority in the 2026 midterm elections, and Rep. Suzan DelBene said the party will prioritize affordability and health care. The agenda includes lowering costs for housing, food, health care, child care, and energy.

Why it matters

The party's priorities target cost pressures that families and businesses have faced, including tariffs that have raised prices and affected trade with Canada. Democrats also want to address Republican-backed changes to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Democrats want to restore an expanded child tax credit, which nearly halved child poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The source does not detail the cost or legislative vehicle for restoring it.

The players

Suzan DelBene

A Washington state congresswoman who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

The official House Democratic committee responsible for recruiting candidates and supporting party campaigns in House races.

The details

DelBene, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, led recruitment of candidates from varied backgrounds, including farmers, veterans, small-business owners, mayors, and ministers. She said corruption is an affordability issue, arguing public resources should help families rather than fund ballrooms, reflecting pools, and slush funds.

Nov. 5, 2026: DelBene discusses the Democratic agenda in an interview.
January 2027: Democrats take control of the House.

Policy Backdrop

Democrats want to restore the expanded child tax credit that helped cut child poverty nearly in half during the COVID-19 pandemic. The party's child care and affordability agenda would revive that approach after the credit expired.

Families who rely on the child tax credit could see changes if Democrats succeed in restoring the expanded version. Households facing higher costs from tariffs and changes to health coverage would be directly affected by the party's affordability priorities.

The takeaway

Affordability for child care, housing, food, health care, and energy is shaping the Democratic agenda in the new House majority. Families tracking household costs should watch which of these priorities reach a vote first.