Key facts
- Democrats will become the majority in Congress in January, and the conference debated how quickly to act.
- Rob Sand, governor-elect of Iowa, said repeated investigations of already-reported matters were not productive.
- Jamie Raskin, expected to lead the House judiciary committee, told reporters lawmakers could pursue both investigations and legislation.
- Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is challenging Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader.
- Elissa Slotkin of Michigan told reporters on Friday she is not voting for Schumer.
- Protesters interrupted Hakeem Jeffries on Friday and called for Democrats to reject Schumer.
Thousands of Democrats, including lawmakers, strategists, pollsters and prospective 2028 presidential candidates, met in Denver for a three-day "What's Next" conference that began on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after the party's sweep in the 2026 midterm elections. The event was planned months in advance by a new group called Majority Democrats.
The mood was mostly celebratory. Attendees cited wins in longtime Republican strongholds that gave Democrats sizable majorities in both chambers of Congress and expanded their control of governorships and state legislatures. Speakers agreed the party must act quickly once it becomes the majority in January, but differed on how.
James Talarico, the senator-elect from Texas, said on Thursday: "We must deliver immediate, bold relief during this affordability crisis." Hakeem Jeffries, the New York congressman, said on Friday the party had a "collective responsibility to really get to work" on the cost of groceries, gas and housing.
Rob Sand, the governor-elect of Iowa, told reporters on Thursday he favored tangible economic relief over further investigations, asking why lawmakers would investigate matters already reported in the media. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland congressman expected to lead the House judiciary committee, told reporters lawmakers could do both.
A leadership fight is also under way. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader, and Elissa Slotkin, a senator for Michigan, told reporters on Friday: "I'm not voting for senator Schumer."
Tensions surfaced during the event. Leftist protesters interrupted Jeffries several times on Friday, calling him a traitor and accusing him of not pushing back enough on the Trump administration. Outside the venue, a small group called on Democrats to reject Schumer, and a larger group expressed support for Palestine and denounced billionaires.
Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic party, questioned why Democrats had not invested in the South, including Black districts. Aftab Pureval, the mayor of Cincinnati, warned against reading the wins as a sign of popularity, saying: "Last week, they gave us one more chance to come around to them."