WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are preparing an ambitious 100-day agenda focused on delivering on their campaign promises — making life more affordable and exercising broad oversight of the Trump administration — if the party gains majority control in next month’s election.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is poised to become House speaker if his party gains power, said Democrats would be united “from the start” to restore the Affordable Care Act tax breaks, reverse Republican cuts to Medicaid, hold votes against the war in Iran and dismantle President Donald Trump’s tariff plan.
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They hope to launch the agenda within the first 100 hours, once the new Congress is in session in January.
“Fighting for an affordable America is what unites Democrats across the country,” Jeffries said recently at the party’s campaign headquarters in Washington.
“This is our commitment to the American people, because the cost of living is far too high and far too many people who work hard, play by the rules, cannot thrive and can barely survive – and are drowning – in the Trump economy.”
It’s a hyper-targeted program that taps into the voter sentiment driving much of the midterm elections, as Americans grapple with affordability concerns and the inflationary costs of the war in Iran and other policies.
The undertaking will also test the ability of the House’s sprawling Democrats to work together and avoid the chaotic divisions and disruptions that have hobbled Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson.
Democrats have been out of power in the House since 2023. If Jeffries takes the helm, he will be the first Democratic speaker since Nancy Pelosi, leading a new generation of lawmakers that includes a handful of far-left candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
“The antidote to this is to get things done,” said Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who is set to become chairwoman of the New Democratic Coalition, the largest caucus among House Democrats. She said the party was determined to show the American people that “Democrats know how to govern.”
A far-left Freedom Caucus?
Rep. Greg Casar, Democrat of Texas, chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said he is often asked whether Democrats will face their own version of the Freedom Caucus, referring to far-right Republicans who often block the House’s agenda.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Casar told The Associated Press in an interview. “The Freedom Caucus is breaking things. But if you’re progressive, you want to get things passed.”
Leader Jeffries, Casar and other Democrats have been in contact with progressive candidates, many of whom DSA supports as the party focuses on shared priorities.
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“This idea that because we’re going to have new members, we’re going to be disjointed — that’s not the case,” said Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter, who hopes to become chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Anyone counting on that, save the popcorn for another day.”
Republicans, who face an increasingly difficult electoral climate to maintain their majority, portray Democrats as beholden to a far-left socialist agenda.
If Republicans retain power, Johnson said they would continue what they have already accomplished alongside Trump, an agenda focused on cutting taxes and federal spending.
“What we would do over the next two years is exactly what we’ve already done,” Johnson said on CNBC’s Squawk Box, “and it will put the conditions back in place for a strong America.”
Fix health care, stop the war, end tariffs – and investigate Trump
A few months ago, Jeffries launched five task forces to tackle the affordability agenda focused on health care, housing, groceries and goods, gas and utilities, and caregiving.
Each group is led by a progressive and centrist Democrat — the health care task force, for example, is led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama — with the goal of finding common ground on proposed policies that all House Democrats can support.
At the same time, Jeffries has tasked top Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees with preparing the investigations. They are focusing on Trump, his family and his administration, as part of a broader anti-corruption agenda. Impeachment, Jeffries said, is neither being considered nor ruled out.
“We must lower the cost of groceries and gasoline. Second, we must make health care affordable for every American. Third, we will hold accountable the crooks who have inflicted unprecedented corruption on the American people,” Jeffries said. “From day one.”
Democrats plan to vote quickly to restore health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, which expired in 2025, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health insurance costs.
The proposals also are set to undo Medicaid cuts that Republicans implemented as part of their “One Big Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and program reductions, including new work requirements for beneficiaries.
There are moves to roll back Trump’s tariffs as Congress works to reclaim power from the White House.
And Democrats, who forced many votes on ending the Iranian conflict, plan to pressure the Trump administration to end military action by proposing more war powers resolutions.
Much of the House Democrats’ agenda, if they return to power, will depend on the size of the majority. The details also depend on the Senate and its decision to turn to Democrats.
“We can’t just go back to the status quo,” said Usamah Andrabi, a spokeswoman for Justice Democrats, an outside group that supports far-left progressives.
And Trump, in the White House, has the last word, with a veto with the stroke of a pen.
“We’re going to do a lot of things and we’re going to be very busy,” Carter said. “We won’t be able to fix everything overnight.”
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