Democrats gather in Denver after midterm wins, split over next steps

Thousands of Democrats are meeting in Denver for a three-day gathering called the “What’s Next” conference. According to The Guardian, attendees include lawmakers, strategists, pollsters, organisers and potential 2028 presidential candidates. They are working to answer one main question: what the party should do after a strong showing in the 2026 midterm elections.

Speakers agreed that Democrats must act quickly once they become the majority in January. The details, however, remain unclear. James Talarico, the senator-elect from Texas, said the party must deliver immediate and bold relief during an affordability crisis. Hakeem Jeffries, the congressman from New York, spoke about lowering the cost of groceries, gas and housing.

Read also: Democrats plan affordability push as Congress returns in January

A debate over priorities

A central disagreement is whether lawmakers should focus on oversight or on passing laws that ease living costs. Rob Sand, the governor-elect of Iowa, told reporters he wanted the focus placed on tangible economic relief. He questioned the value of new investigations into matters already covered by the media.

Jamie Raskin, a Maryland representative tipped to chair the House judiciary panel, took the view that both goals were achievable at the same time.

Leadership tensions in the Senate

A separate dispute is taking shape over leadership in the Senate. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is challenging Chuck Schumer, the party’s longtime leader, for the post of Senate majority leader. Elissa Slotkin, a senator from Michigan, told reporters on Friday that she would not vote for Schumer.

The gathering was organised by a new group called Majority Democrats, and was described as the party’s de facto victory event. Its mood was mostly celebratory. Attendees pointed to wins in long-time Republican strongholds, which gave Democrats sizeable majorities in both chambers of Congress and expanded their control of governorships and state legislatures.

Warnings and internal divisions

Not everyone was celebrating without reservation. Aftab Pureval, the mayor of Cincinnati, cautioned against reading the results as proof that Democrats are broadly popular. He said voters had given the party another chance to win them over.

Anderson Clayton, who is 28 and leads the state party in North Carolina, asked why the party had not put more money into the South, including Black districts where voters backed Democrats. Protesters at the venue also interrupted Jeffries during his Friday session, accusing him of not confronting the Trump administration firmly enough. Others called for Schumer to be replaced.

According to The Guardian, many attendees downplayed talk of a split between progressive and moderate wings. Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, said the divide between the two camps did not capture the current moment. Some attendees also said the party’s leaders were talking more about broadening its appeal and delivering results.

Why it matters

The conference offers an early signal of how Democrats plan to use their expanded power in Congress and the states. Whether they focus on costs, oversight or leadership changes will shape their agenda from January. For now, the party has shown unity in celebration but remains unsettled about its direction.

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Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The Guardian: ‘We must deliver’: jubilant Democrats gather in Denver to chart way forward

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