In March 2023, then-candidate Trump stood on stage at CPAC and declared, “I am your retribution.” Less than one year into his second term, at least 250 individuals and entities had been singled out by name by him or his administration. And voters have noticed the trend, too. Narrative’s most recent Nexus Survey found that 60% of voters recall a political leader publicly criticizing a specific company within the last month.
This trend is likely to accelerate if Democrats win back at least one chamber of Congress. If they’re successful, their base will also expect them to deliver on promises of visible, public oversight and scrutiny.
Regaining a majority in the House of Representatives won’t afford Democrats any real legislative power if Republicans still control the Senate and with President Trump in the White House. But even the slimmest majority would allow House Democrats to control committees and, by extension, wield the power to call hearings, issue subpoenas, and conduct investigations. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is typically the vehicle for this kind of work, but all 20 standing House committees have subpoena authorities, and most – including Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, and Financial Services – have subcommittees and staff dedicated to oversight and investigations.
But where would a new Democratic House majority start? Here are four investigative avenues they’re likely to prioritize:
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), who would take the helm of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has said that delving into the allegations of corruption surrounding President Trump and his administration would be “at the center” of the Committee’s work. This would likely include questions related to conflicts of interest, government contracting, the Trump family’s business operations, and accusations of insider trading involving administration officials. These efforts would also likely examine companies and organizations that support administration initiatives, such as the White House State Ballroom.
At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in 2024, President Trump pledged, “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will make America affordable again.” But, over the last year, prices have gone up, driven in part by the Iran war, tariffs, and supply chain slowdowns. Additionally, soaring electricity rates became a central campaign issue in New Jersey and Virginia, where Democrats won both gubernatorial races in 2025, and a focus on utility bills and consumer backlash to data centers helped propel Georgia Democrats to their largest statewide margins of victory in over two decades. Should congressional Democrats control committee gavels next year, they will use hearings to scrutinize both the administration and relevant industries on affordability issues ranging from housing to healthcare to algorithmic pricing.
A Republican-controlled Congress has largely insulated the administration from oversight hearings, and corporate scrutiny has also been highly selective in the current Congress. With a Democratic majority, expect to see high-profile administration officials called before Congress much more frequently, especially as situations unfold in real time, such as ICE enforcement or the Iran war. These calls to testify would likely extend to CEOs and other executives as well – on mergers, data privacy concerns, safety failures, consumer protections, and more.
Finally, Democrats in Congress will likely take a close look at entities that made high-profile deals with the Trump administration. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who is in line to lead the House Judiciary Committee, said last year, “I hope these law firms realize there is no safety in appeasement. …we have to make sure nobody in the White House or in state power can shake down law firms, media, colleges, and universities again for his or her personal enrichment.” Expect to not only see the leaders of these organizations called to testify before relevant committees, but also congressional investigations into the details of their agreements with the Trump administration.
2027 can easily seem like a lifetime away when you’re operating in an environment as fast-paced and unpredictable as the current one. But if Democrats win the House as expected, the oversight agenda for the next Congress is already being written. As someone who has played a role on both sides of the witness table – helping execute oversight hearings and also prepping executives to testify – assessing risks and putting plans in place now could make all the difference next year.
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Christine Hennessey is a Managing Director at Narrative, bringing over a decade of experience in Democratic politics on Capitol Hill, including on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI). Christine manages high-stakes reputational and public policy campaigns for clients across industries. To connect with Christine, please reach out at christine@narrativestrategies.com. |