Nonpartisan analysts suggest that the Democratic Party has a strong chance of regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for November 3. Such a shift would mark a reversal of the current two-year period of Republican dominance in Congress and could significantly influence the balance of power in Washington.
Democrats have criticized the Republican-led Congress for allowing the Trump administration to exercise war powers and control federal spending with limited legislative oversight. Notably, President Donald Trump authorized military action against Iran on February 28 without securing explicit congressional approval, a move many Democrats argue contravenes constitutional provisions that assign the power to declare war to Congress.
In response, Democrats have introduced resolutions to terminate U.S. involvement in the conflict unless Congress authorizes continued engagement. One such resolution secured bipartisan support but was ultimately disregarded by the Trump administration. Should Democrats win control of either chamber, they would have the leverage to reduce defense budgets as a mechanism to compel the administration to seek congressional consent before continuing hostilities. They could also mandate public testimony from administration officials regarding military operations and policies.
Another contentious issue is U.S. aid to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. While broad bipartisan support exists for assistance to Kyiv, President Trump has curtailed direct financial and military aid. His decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel and waive energy-related sanctions shortly after their enactment sparked criticism from lawmakers across party lines. A Democratic majority could exercise control over the congressional agenda, potentially facilitating the passage of aid packages to Ukraine that might override a presidential veto through a two-thirds majority.
Beyond military and foreign policy, Democrats could also take action on Trump’s recent measures involving Russia. New York Representative Gregory Meeks, who is poised to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee if Democrats prevail, has introduced bipartisan legislation to block Trump's plan to reintroduce Russian diesel into the global market.
Support within the Democratic Party for Israel has notably declined amid the recent Gaza conflict, in which tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have died, as well as ongoing violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close ties with Republican leaders have further complicated the alliance. Democrats have begun reevaluating U.S. military aid to Israel, which totaled $3.8 billion in the most recent fiscal year—the largest amount given to any country.
During the summer, nearly half of House Democrats voted in favor of cutting aid to Israel. Some who opposed those cuts, including Meeks, have instead supported proposals to restrict the transfer of certain weapons, such as heavy bombs, to Israel. A shift in congressional control could therefore lead to significant reconsideration of U.S. policies toward Israel and the broader Middle East.