The Democratic Party gained power across the country in the midterms. Now what?

Voters handed Democrats the keys to power across the country and expect them to drive in a different direction. Party leaders are now trying to figure out which way to go.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4774x3183+0+0/resize/4774x3183!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F28%2F8fcc18274f76a602b7e58adaddaf%2Fgettyimages-2304294758.jpg' alt='Newly elected Democratic U.S. Senators walk toward an orientation meeting inside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. From left to right are Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton (D-IL), Sen.-elect Annie Andrews (D-SC), Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan (D-MN), Sen.-elect James Talarico (D-TX), Sen.-elect Josh Turek (D-IA), and Sen.-elect Troy Jackson (D-ME).'/><p>Voters handed Democrats the keys to power across the country and expect them to drive in a different direction. Party leaders are now trying to figure out which way to go.</p><p>(Image credit: Win McNamee)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6035008' />