‘The Most Powerful Minority’: Democrats See Some Upside to Their Election Misfortunes

House Democrats see opportunities to advance their agenda under Trump, with slim Republican majorities potentially stymying the GOP’s biggest plans.

Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries walks to the podium at his weekly press conference on Capitol Hill. John McDonnell/AP

Republicans may have control of the House, Senate and White House, but Democrats have their optimism.

The GOP margin in the House is so slim it hardly exists. Donald Trump’s presidential victory could set up Democrats for a backlash election — much like 2018 — where they take advantage of his unpopularity. And the Senate margin, while comparatively larger than the House, is still well short of a filibuster-proof 60 votes.

As bad as Democrats think the election went, they now think it could have been a lot worse.