Democrats will control both chambers of Congress in 2027 following a sweeping midterm election victory on Tuesday. While votes are still being counted in several states, Democrats are on track to hold at least 54 Senate seats and a House majority of more than 250 seats, the largest in nearly two decades.
Within hours of the results, the incoming chairs of two of the most powerful investigative congressional committees signaled what comes next: “Lawyer up.” and “Subpoenas.”
On election night, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) issued a two-word statement: “Lawyer up.”
This message follows Democratic committee leaders’ 2026 preview of their investigative agenda, sending hundreds of letters requesting records and information from the Trump administration and private parties alike. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), in line to chair the House Judiciary Committee, has been meeting with House Democratic leadership to divide the oversight work among committees and expects to spend November and December setting priorities for public hearings.
Takeaway: Democrats are in the minority until the 120th Congress convenes on January 3, 2027, but incoming chairs can send letters and preservation requests now. Subpoenas are likely early next year, once committees organize and adopt their rules. How a company responds to an informal request today will shape the record later, and declining to engage is rarely a sound strategy.
Voter sentiment will shape Democrats’ oversight agenda in 2027. On key concerns that dominated the exit polls, Democrats spent 2026 sending the letters that will become 2027 investigations.
Affordability, market power, and consumer protection. Three in four voters said the economy is in bad shape, and at least 85% were concerned about the cost of gas, food, utilities, and healthcare. Expect scrutiny of pricing practices, drug-pricing arrangements, energy costs, the impact of tariffs on consumers, and industries Democrats argue are raising costs or shifting risk onto consumers.
Key committees: House Energy and Commerce Committee, House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Senate Banking Committee, and Senate Finance Committee
Federal power and civil liberties. A majority of voters said immigration enforcement has gone too far. Democrats are poised to investigate the administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation efforts, as well as government contractors and companies whose products and services may have been used to support the administration’s immigration enforcement actions.
Key committees: House Oversight Committee, House Judiciary Committee, House Homeland Security Committee, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Corporate engagement with the Trump administration and Trump family members. About nine in 10 voters called corruption a major factor contributing to their vote, and both parties will want to demonstrate to voters they can be trusted to address the issue. Democrats will attempt to tie this concern to Trump family businesses, donations to Trump-aligned projects, and corporate interactions with the administration. Expect probes into corporate donations, government financial support of certain industries, government contracts, and corporate ties to Trump family-aligned businesses or industries.
Key committees: House Oversight Committee, House Judiciary Committee, House Natural Resources Committee, and Senate Finance Committee
The Pentagon, national security, foreign donations, and foreign business. Nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) were opposed to military action in Iran. Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY), in line to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has promised investigations into the administration’s Iran war decision-making, as well as Venezuela operations and military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific. These probes include inquiries into energy companies, government contractors, and financial services companies. Democrats have also highlighted possible national security risks of foreign donations to Trump-aligned projects, foreign investment in sensitive technology, and foreign business entanglements with Trump family businesses.
Key committees: House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee, House Intelligence Committee, and Senate Armed Services Committee
AI and data centers. Three in four voters (76%) oppose a data center in their community, and 57% believe AI will do more harm than good. Expect committees across Congress to hold hearings with technology and AI leaders, along with scrutiny of data-center energy costs and chip exports.
Key committees: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate Banking Committee, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senate Commerce Committee
Takeaway: Expect Democratic investigations into alleged corruption paired with legislative reform proposals. AI cuts across all four issues, and with comprehensive legislation unlikely, congressional action will shift toward hearings and other oversight requests.
Congress rarely investigates alone. Democrats flipped attorney general offices in Texas, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas. Texas elected its first Democratic attorney general since 1994, who has pledged a focus on consumer protection and anti-corruption. These offices join states such as California and New York that already lead multistate litigation. Meanwhile, the administration may want to show that it is protecting consumers too, with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice (DOJ) pursuing visible enforcement of their own, including partnering with state attorneys general.
With Democrats in the majority, expect committee reports to serve as road maps for state attorneys general, and potentially as source material for plaintiffs’ attorneys.
What this means for companies:
On election night, President Trump had a simple message: “VETO.” Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) posted his own one-word message: “Subpoenas.”
Despite the confrontational rhetoric, expect both the administration and a Democratic Congress to pick and choose their battles, with accommodations reached on both sides.
The White House has added legal staff to prepare for oversight and a recent DOJ Office of Legal Counsel opinion suggests the administration may assert executive privilege over certain presidential communications with private parties. But contesting every request across dozens of committees would consume time and capital the administration will need elsewhere in its final two years.
Despite the focus on potential subpoenas next Congress, the use of congressional subpoenas is now a commonplace occurrence. Since 2021, nearly 600 subpoenas have been issued by congressional committees, but Congress has brought just three civil enforcement actions during that time. Document demands and subpoenas may be broadly worded to seek “any and all” documents, but narrowed responses are typically negotiated. Litigation risks for House committees mean negotiation is the preferred resolution.
Why understanding subpoena threats and litigation matters:
Takeaway: Expect widespread subpoena threats, but behind-the-scenes negotiations to resolve disputes. Disputes that reach court will be chosen carefully to win and to set precedent. Knowing which category a matter falls into should shape strategy from the first letter.
We will continue to monitor developments as the new Congress takes shape. For questions, please contact the Congressional Investigations team.
Alec Bartishevich, a Policy Advisor in our Washington, D.C. office, contributed to this alert.