Newly elected Democrats are weighing how hard to push back against President Donald Trump after their strong showing in the 2026 midterm elections, and a clear debate has emerged over whether to pursue investigations or focus on working with the administration. The discussion took place at a "What's Next" conference in Denver hosted by Majority Democrats, where party figures addressed the path forward after the midterms.
The Democrats posted a series of pickups in the elections. Participants at the Denver event described a split between those who want to investigate the administration and those who argue that confrontation will not deliver results. Party voices reportedly warned Trump to "lawyer up," and investigations were said to be planned in several areas, including immigration, business interests, and the Department of Justice.
Iowa Governor-elect Rob Sand urged colleagues to avoid "throwing bombs" and to concentrate on delivering results for voters. Sand said he intends to work with the Trump administration, and he will serve two more years in office. His approach reflects a broader argument that cooperation on specific issues can serve constituents better than open conflict.
Senator-elect James Talarico, a Democrat from Texas, also called for working with Trump on reforms. Talarico is the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a statewide race in Texas, a result that gives his views on bipartisan engagement added weight within the party. His comments put him on the side of those favoring negotiation over confrontation.
Democratic strategist Lis Smith argued that the election was a referendum on Trump rather than on Democratic policy, a reading that she said points to the need for the party to focus its message on the president's record. Public opinion appears to favor cooperation. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that nearly three-quarters of respondents want Democratic leaders to work with Trump.
The debate extends beyond the question of oversight. An opinion piece in Fortune, written by a former Trump-era trade negotiator, reports that Democrats are discussing whether to restore congressional tariff authority. The author argues that unilateral trade action has failed under both the current and previous administrations. The piece notes that Trade Promotion Authority has lapsed and that Trump used it once, for the USMCA agreement.
The same article criticizes a Cambodia labor-rights deal, citing International Labour Organization findings that violations persist. It also points to data showing manufacturing wages rose 6.6 percent between January 2025 and October 2026, compared with 5.8 percent inflation over the same period. These figures are cited by the author to support the case for a different trade approach.
Separately, a Washington Post report carried by Raw Story quotes Trump saying "nobody's been killed" in five months of conflict with Iran. Pentagon figures contradict that claim: 23 US service members have died in the Middle East during the Iran war, 11 from enemy fire and 12 from nonhostile causes. Trump also said Gulf investors had asked him to prolong the conflict, a claim that has not been verified.