A Democratic Congress Arrives in January: Subpoenas, a Veto Pen and a Fight Over House Republican Leadership

The next Congress, the 120th, convenes Jan. 3 with Democrats in charge of both chambers, per the AP count and Al Jazeera's account. Here is what the people involved are saying they will do. Their statements are promises, not outcomes.

Democrats

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: "Whenever Trump defies the will of the American people or the law, we will launch investigations, take him to court, and entangle him in legislative razor wire. The days of Trump's supplicant Senate are over." He also vowed to end the Iran war through the "power of the purse." He told MS NOW the first priority is lowering costs, and that investigations come second. Asked by CNN, he would not say whether Democrats would abolish the legislative filibuster.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become speaker, said: "We ran on affordability, we won on affordability and now it's our job to govern on affordability." He told CNN ending the Iran war is among the party's most urgent goals. The New York Times reports he predicted Democrats would finish with at least 255 House seats. The AP has Democrats at 240 with 48 races uncalled, so that figure is his prediction, not a result.

Committee control matters as much as votes. As the Times notes, Democratic control of the Senate gives the party a say over Mr. Trump's judicial and administration nominees, and Democratic chairs will hold subpoena authority.

The White House

Mr. Trump told the Times he was "absolutely willing to accept those results" and would work with Democrats. He also said: "I have total veto power, so they have to come to us." He told Politico he does not "want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything," and later said he would use the veto if Democrats were "destructive."

Congress can override a veto with two-thirds of both chambers. Democrats are well short of that, CNN reports, so a Trump veto would stand unless Republicans join Democrats.

Vice President JD Vance said "Everyone knows why we lost" and blamed the Iran war. Mr. Trump called that "largely true," then added, "If I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again," the Times reports. Mr. Trump has said he does not see the result as a verdict on him.

Republicans

Senate Republican leader John Thune said in a statement that Republicans "will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat party attempts to unwind everything we've done," and that they would work with the president "to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism."

In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson told staff he will not run for Republican leader in the minority, CNN and the Times report. On election night he said: "Come 2028, we will take back the House and we will finish this job." Rep. Jim Jordan has announced a run for the post. Majority Leader Steve Scalise is expected by some members to run too, per CNN, but had not announced as of its report. CNN reports the secret-ballot leadership elections are expected next week. Rep. Greg Steube, who earlier criticized the party's leaders, called for new leadership.

What this does and does not change

It changes who runs the committees, who controls the floor, and who can send the president a bill he must sign or veto. Laws already on the books stay on the books unless a new bill passes both chambers and survives a veto. Whether Democrats try to change them, and whether any Republicans cross over, is what to watch.

Sources: AP results and takeaways; CNN live coverage (Nov. 4); The New York Times live updates (Nov. 4); Yahoo News on Schumer's remarks; Al Jazeera (Nov. 5).