The next two years could reveal a lot about the past two.
If Democrats win at least one chamber of Congress in November, they’ll gain sweeping powers to probe President Donald Trump’s actions since he returned to office two years ago.
Already they’re eyeing everything from Trump’s personal financial interests to his efforts to reshape Washington, D.C., in his image. The list of potential targets is so long that Democrats will likely have to decide which investigations to prioritize.
If the Democrats win back the House, they will be able to haul administration officials into committee hearings, subpoena records from government agencies and private companies, and put a spotlight on some of Trump’s most controversial actions.
If they win back the Senate, they’ll also be able to grill administration and judicial nominees.
The promise to fight corruption has become a central tenet of the party’s 2026 campaign message — and a preview of what a Democratic-led Congress could look like in 2027.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat who has grabbed headlines in recent months for his oversight work and pointed questioning of Trump officials, recently told MS NOW he expects that every committee across Capitol Hill will play a role in scrutinizing the Trump administration, predicting that the findings will “shock the American public” and “lay bare the need” to constrain the executive branch.
Trump has even framed the risks of losing control of Congress in personal terms, telling House Republicans in January that “if we don’t win the midterms ... they’ll find a reason to impeach me.”
The administration has also taken steps that would help it fight congressional inquiries next year. Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel concluded that Trump can invoke executive privilege over communications with certain outside advisers, which could make it harder for Democrats to compel private citizens to testify about their conversations with the president.
So what might be on Democrats’ target list? Lawmakers and candidates have already provided plenty of clues.
Read Kevin Frey’s analysis here.
