House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared "America is back" before a crowd of supporters in Washington, D.C., following Tuesday's midterm elections, which delivered a Democratic wave that will end Republican control of Congress.
Jeffries, who is now on track to become the first Black Speaker of the House in history, said the results marked the start of what he called a "great American comeback." He said voters had sent a clear message to Republican-led Washington that they were done with political extremism and corruption.
Democrats won control of the House after voter anger over President Trump's handling of the economy, the Iran war, and a rising cost of living fueled significant gains for the party. The shift will end Trump's ability to rely on a GOP-led Congress to advance his agenda and is expected to accelerate his lame-duck status.
Jeffries said Democrats would focus on affordability when they take control in January, with plans to expand access to affordable housing, education, healthcare, and retirement benefits.
"We're going to fight to make sure that we make this country affordable for every single American," Jeffries said. "This is a change election. And we understand as House Democrats we need to deliver dramatic change. Things are broken. We need a Congress that puts the American people first."
Jeffries also pledged to pursue accountability for what he described as corruption in high office.
"We're going to bring accountability to those who have visited unprecedented corruption on this country," he said. "Because if you have people in high office who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family members, their friends or their donors, then they are not focused on making life better for the American people."
He acknowledged that Democrats faced a significant financial disadvantage during the campaign, with Republicans outspending his party across races nationwide. Despite that, he said voters had demonstrated they were "not for sale."
Democrats will nonetheless face obstacles in advancing their more ambitious legislative goals. Trump retains veto power, meaning clashes over affordability legislation and other priorities are likely.
Outgoing House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed supporters in Shreveport, Louisiana, acknowledging the loss. He said the "grand experiment" of democracy is not controlled by a king or a monarch, and that his party had faced difficult historical odds from the outset.
"From the first day of this election, we knew that to keep the House and sustain our majority we'd have to defy more than a century of midterm history," Johnson said. "It's very, very difficult to overcome and it looks like history will be kept tonight."
Johnson said he "left it all on the field" in the effort to retain the lower chamber.
