House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats are poised to reclaim the House by targeting districts President Trump won two years ago, likening the effort to the 2018 sweep. The party has added eight competitive districts to its map and argues some Republican redistricting moves have backfired. With early voting underway and the House narrowly split, a small number of districts could determine control, Jeffries warned, urging Democrats to stay vigilant.
Jeffries: Democrats Target Trump-Won Districts to Try to Replicate 2018 Sweep
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that Democrats believe they are well positioned to regain control of the House, arguing the party can close its fundraising gap and penetrate conservative districts that President Donald Trump carried two years ago.
Jeffries Draws A Parallel To 2018
Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Jeffries — who would become House speaker if Democrats win the majority — compared the 2026 midterm fight to 2018, when Democrats flipped numerous seats during Trump’s first term. "House Democrats are poised to take back the majority," he said.
Jeffries noted that many of the seats Democrats flipped in 2018 were in districts Trump won in 2016, and he said the party is aiming to repeat that success in 2026 by mounting offensives in vulnerable Republican-held districts.
Map Expansion And Redistricting
With roughly a month until Election Day on Nov. 3, the Democratic campaign arm added eight districts to its list of competitive races, including seats in Kansas, Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington state. Jeffries said Republican-led redistricting efforts in places such as Texas and Florida have backfired in some areas, creating opportunities for Democrats.
Money, Messaging And The Closing Weeks
Republicans currently hold a sizable cash advantage as House Speaker Mike Johnson aligns the GOP more closely with former President Trump in an effort to preserve their majority. Trump has promised $5,000 cash dividends if Republicans win — a proposal that would likely cost more than $1 trillion and faces major practical and political hurdles — and has announced $90 payments to seniors to help cover Medicare-related costs.
"The American people are not buying what MAGA Republicans are trying to sell," Jeffries said, calling Republican efforts "failing and flailing."
With the House narrowly divided, only a handful of seats could decide which party controls the gavel. Early voting is already underway, and both parties are crisscrossing the country: Johnson has campaigned in multiple states and is scheduled to visit more than 40 districts in the coming weeks, and Jeffries said he will continue traveling to competitive districts as well.
Jeffries cautioned Democrats to stay focused and not become complacent: "Anything and everything" can happen in a tight midterm, he said.
Help us improve.
