Democrats Plan to Ride Affordability to Midterms

House Democratic leaders said on Jan. 7 they plan to make affordability and health care costs the party’s main message heading into the 2026 midterms, saying voters want Congress focused on prices and household budgets, as lawmakers returned to Washington this week.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said that “the American people have been clear for more than a year” that they want costs lowered. Speaking alongside Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Aguilar said Democrats will keep pushing proposals they say would lower costs, with an emphasis on health care.

Aguilar and Lieu repeatedly pointed to their effort to force action on Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Aguilar noted that although the health care subsidies have already expired, Congress still has a chance to act.

Lieu framed Democrats’ message as a contrast with what he described as Republicans’ focus on other topics, including the recent military operation in Venezuela. He also referenced the House’s Jan. 7 floor agenda, which included debate on the SHOWER Act (H.R. 4593), sponsored by Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.).

The measure would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise the federal definition of “showerhead” in an effort to revise “overregulation” of energy standards set during the previous Democrat-controlled government. Lieu said Democrats were pushing for a vote on the ACA tax credits while Republicans “are going to be talking about showerheads.”

Democrats were also asked about the risk of a government shutdown tied to the late-January funding deadline.

When asked whether Democrats would support another shutdown if a deal over the health care subsidies is not reached by the end of January, Aguilar said, “Democrats aren’t focused on a government shutdown.”

He pointed to Republican disputes over spending bills and said Democrats want to pass all 12 appropriations bills through bipartisan talks.

Aguilar also stressed the attendance of Democratic members after some close votes late in 2025. He said members are expected to be present and on time, adding that “a 15-minute vote means 15 minutes.”

Foreign policy questions took up a large part of the press conference, but Aguilar and Lieu framed them as oversight issues rather than their midterm message.

Aguilar said Congress should have chances to offer amendments and debate issues tied to Venezuela and Greenland. On Venezuela, Aguilar said Democrats have concerns about what happens next and want more answers from the administration about its plans. He said Democrats have been discussing possible war powers steps and other checks with members who serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Intelligence Committee.

Both Democrats also opened by noting the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.). Lieu said he served with LaMalfa in the California Legislature and Congress and called him “conscientious” and “respectful.”

Republicans offered their own condolences just before Democrats spoke. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) praised LaMalfa and relayed a comment from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) that LaMalfa was “the kindest man” he ever knew.

Johnson then said Republicans are already delivering on affordability, pointing to working family tax cut provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in 2025. He said those provisions will hit families’ wallets in 2026 and said Republicans prevented a major tax increase by extending Trump-era tax cuts.

Johnson also said that Democrats voted for “record tax increases” and that Republicans voted for “record tax cuts and refunds.”

He defended the administration’s actions in Venezuela, calling the U.S. military operation “decisive and justified,” and he said the administration complied with the War Powers Act’s notification requirement.

He said the United States is not at war in Venezuela and that the president, as commander in chief, can deploy forces to address threats and enforce laws. Regarding Greenland, Johnson said the United States has “no intention” to make war and said any talks would move through diplomatic channels. He dismissed the prospect of military action there.

Johnson also said the House will move forward this week on several fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills and said leaders want to avoid an omnibus spending bill. He described the effort as bipartisan and said Republicans are pushing to keep the process moving ahead of the funding deadline.