Jeffries Nears House Speakership as Democrats Target Midterm Gains

If Democrats win a majority in the 2026 midterm elections, Jeffries would be elected speaker when the new Congress convenes, becoming the first Black American to hold the gavel and the first Democratic speaker since Nancy Pelosi.

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

The 2026 midterms occur during President Donald Trump’s second term, a period marked by low GOP approval and ongoing debates over the Iran war and immigration policy. Republicans currently control the Senate (53-47) and hold a slim House majority under Speaker Mike Johnson. Historically, the president’s party loses seats in midterms, a trend that could amplify Democratic momentum.

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• Senate toss-up races: Cook Political Report polls show Democrats leading in Ohio (Sherrod Brown 49 %–43 % over Jon Husted), Texas (James Talarico 49 %–44 % over Ken Paxton), Michigan (Abdul El-Sayed 50 %–48 % over Mike Rogers), and Iowa (Josh Turek 46 %–44 % over Ashley Hinson).

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• House odds: Kalshi betting markets assign Democrats a 90.1 % chance of winning the House.

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• National polling: A New York Times-Siena poll released mid-September found 51 % of likely voters would support the Democratic congressional candidate in their district, versus 43 % for Republicans.

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• Rep. Brad Schneider, outgoing chair of the New Democrat Coalition, praised Jeffries’s focus, noting, “What we’ve seen is he is quietly effective.” “What we’ve seen is he is quietly effective,” — Rep. Brad Schneider, of Illinois, outgoing chairman of their party’s centrist New Democrat Coalition

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• Law professor Brian C. “It requires a lot of ducks to be in a row that I don’t think would be in a row,” — Brian C. Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University

New York Times

During a September 2026 service at an Ohio church, Jeffries listened to a sermon about “calming a gathering storm.”

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• Speaker election: The House will vote for its speaker later in the year.

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• Democratic agenda: Jeffries’s projected 100-day plan includes cost-of-living relief measures and oversight of the Trump administration.

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• Investigations: Democrats intend to launch probes into alleged misuse of the presidency for personal enrichment, pending control of one or both chambers.

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• “We’re on the verge of taking back control of the House,” — Hakeem Jeffries “We’re on the verge of taking back control of the House,” — Hakeem Jeffries

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• “What we’ve seen is he is quietly effective,” — Brad Schneider, Rep., Illinois “What we’ve seen is he is quietly effective,” — Rep. Brad Schneider, of Illinois, outgoing chairman of their party’s centrist New Democrat Coalition

Jeffries says Democrats 'on the verge' of winning the House. It puts speaker's gavel in reach

• “It requires a lot of ducks to be in a row that I don’t think would be in a row,” — Brian C. Kalt, law professor, Michigan State University “It requires a lot of ducks to be in a row that I don’t think would be in a row,” — Brian C. Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University

New York Times