Democrats win Congress on affordability and face Trump's veto on health costs

A mandate built on prices

Democrats took both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, 3 November, a result POLITICO called unexpected and one that exceeded what most forecasters had predicted. At least seven Republican-held Senate seats changed hands. As of midday Wednesday, 4 November, the party had won 54 seats.

The margin rested on public frustration with the cost of living. Only 21% of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, even though the economy looks healthy on paper. Voters focused on grocery bills, electricity charges and the petrol pump, where prices average $4.18 a gallon, an increase of nearly 40%. The New York Times noted that Trump had brushed off affordability as a 'hoax' during the campaign while stressing how strong the economy was. Democrats flipped dozens of states and congressional districts by channeling anger over inflation and over the war with Iran, which they link to fuel prices.

Costs reached the Republican base

Sid Miller, the outgoing Republican agriculture commissioner in Texas, told the BBC that ranchers are receiving $300 to $500 less for each head of cattle while facing record fertiliser costs. He said those ranchers felt betrayed, a sign that price pressure reached inside the Republican base. In rural Texas, a hotel, restaurant and spa owner near Austin said rising grocery and fuel costs were forcing her to raise wages for 300 staff. In Elkhart, Indiana, a clothing store owner said he hopes Washington can find consistency and cooperation. Democrats say these accounts match the message voters sent.

Health care comes first

Hakeem Jeffries told MS Now's Morning Joe that the party ran on affordability, won on it, and must now govern on it.

“We ran on affordability, we won on affordability, and now it's our job to govern on affordability.”

In his election night victory speech, Jeffries pledged to restore the expired marketplace subsidies and reverse the Medicaid cuts in the 2025 tax law.

“We're going to fight hard to make sure that we can ensure that every single American can afford to go see a doctor when they need one.”

Passing most Senate legislation still requires 60 votes unless Democrats use a budget maneuver called reconciliation. KFF data cited by the Washington Post show Democrats' edge on health care costs rising from 11 percentage points in April to 20 points in September.

April 202611

September 202620

April 2026

11 percentage points

September 2026

20 percentage points

Data from the article text

Even successful measures would leave out the 157 million Americans with workplace coverage, who face higher premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, said in a statement that

“Voters can and should expect action on multiple fronts”

The veto problem

Trump said he would probably become 'Mr. Veto', and the Washington Post reports he is virtually certain to resist efforts to roll back his 2025 tax law, which enacted the Medicaid cuts. Strategists quoted by Axios say the most realistic path is piecemeal affordability fixes next year, with reshaping the health system left to a longer game. Chuck Schumer, who could soon become majority leader, told MS NOW that health costs will be a top focus. POLITICO warned that partisan health bills could help 2028 candidates argue the White House is not doing enough, while bipartisan policy might be an easier sell.

What comes next

A Senate Democratic aide said the timing and method of the health push will be settled over the next several months, and the party's wider list includes scrapping the president's import taxes, ending the war in Iran, and building four million new homes over the next decade. Democrats also want to reverse the 2025 Medicaid cuts and restore the subsidies, while their margin in Congress is large enough to pass bills but still short of what they need to override Trump. The first test comes when Congress convenes next year.