The Republican-backed Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation aimed at constraining the higher electric bills that hit some consumers after data centers arrive, passed the House but failed in the Senate before that chamber recessed.
Democrats have touted a different data center bill, the GRID Savings Act, that would make the companies building out data centers pay for grid and transmission upgrades associated with the boom. GRID stands for Guarding Ratepayers from Increased Demand-costs.
Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, a paid protester firm, weighed in on grassroots opposition to the buildout to data centers, describing it as “one of the strangest emerging bipartisan issues.”
“Tucker Carlson-style Republicans and progressive Democrats increasingly oppose them, while the establishments of both parties largely support them. I suspect Congress eventually passes ‘reform’ that sounds restrictive but actually makes it easier for the industry to build,” he told The Epoch Times.
AI could also spur action.
Amid the tech competition with China and AI-driven economic growth, Trump has cautioned against excessive regulation of the technology, which he has dubbed “super intelligence.” Yet some lawmakers, including many Democrats, want more guardrails on those systems as some industry leaders publicly worry about AI safety.
Cunningham said that while he is not in line with the leftmost wing of the Democrats, AI regulation would be “more populist than socialist,” and important for his party to address to win back support for 2028.
On Oct. 7, Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), who has worked with Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) on legislation to regulate AI, published a draft version of a bill that would impose a stricter liability standard on AI developers.
Other Priorities Carmack, the political scientist at the Stevens Institute of Technology, told The Epoch Times she expects Democrats to apply pressure on AI and another contentious matter—immigration—through both legislation and spending negotiations.
Spencer too expects immigration to fuel spending battles between Republicans and Democrats.
Reconciliation bills passed by the GOP-controlled Congress have locked in years of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
If Democrats perform well enough in the midterms, they could also step up their challenges to tariffs, food stamp cuts, the scope of military spending, and the Iran War, among other Trump policies.
The expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, premium subsidies, which triggered the longest government shutdown in history in late 2025, may come back into focus too.
Jeffries and Schumer have both vowed to tackle ACA restrictions championed by Republicans.
Legislation unveiled on Oct. 1 by the New York Democratic delegation, which includes both legislators, would roll back limits to the scope of those who can use ACA premium tax credits, a result of last year’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
“The ACA subsidies are a hugely popular issue, and Democrats would almost certainly make restoring them a priority,” said Spencer.
Limits and Division
Insiders and experts see a narrow and highly political path to some action as the threat of a Trump veto looms over possible Democratic attempts to legislate on their affordability promises.
Spencer said Democrats could “advance popular legislation that would require Trump to either sign it or veto it.”
Cunningham said Democrats could force hard choices through bills targeting the costs of everyday goods. He hopes the party will pursue legislation on prescription drug prices and anti-competitive practices by large corporations.
If Democrats rule Capitol Hill, they will still have to manage conflicts in their own camp.
At the Democratic National Committee’s August meeting, dueling resolutions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement—one calling for reform, the other for abolition—underscored ideological divides within the party.
Republican control of Congress during the first half of Trump’s second term was marked by conflict, both between different wings of the party and between the House and Senate.
Whether Democrats curb their infighting or not, the future looks explosive.
“This will be an adversarial two years in the run-up to the 2028 presidential elections,” Cormack predicted.
Democratic dominance on Capitol Hill—and just how adroitly they tangle with Trump—would also give voters a yardstick ahead of 2028.
“If Democrats want to build a lasting majority—if they want to build some momentum going into 2028—they’ve got to start making deliveries for people, for Americans who are getting crushed under this economy,” said Cunningham.
The Epoch Times
