Connecticut's congressional Democrats say they will use their party's restored control of the House and Senate to investigate the Trump administration while pushing legislation on health care and living costs. Several of them are in line to lead powerful committees.
Members of the delegation laid out that two-track approach Wednesday at a news conference outside the state Capitol. It came a day after elections in which Democrats regained both chambers and made major gains in some of the most Republican parts of the country.
Rep.-elect Luke Bronin, who won the 1st District seat after unseating a longtime lawmaker in the August primary, said Democrats must solve problems voters care about. He called for accountability on corruption and self-enrichment tied to the administration, a ban on stock trading by members of Congress and serious campaign finance reform.
Rep. Jahana Hayes of the 5th District argued that the party did too little oversight when it last held majorities. She said Democrats would subpoena witnesses as well as pass bills.
we have a responsibility to subpoena people and bring them in and peel back some of the layers of what has been happening because, again, people showed up because they were upset.
Jahana Hayes, U.S. representative, D-5th District
Gavels within reach
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, 83, faces no challengers in her bid to reclaim the House Appropriations Committee gavel, which she held in 2021 before becoming ranking member. She has said she will examine where federal money is flowing and whether some of it was transferred illegally.
Rep. Jim Himes, 60, is seeking to chair the House Intelligence Committee. He has already warned defense companies to cooperate with a possible investigation into corporate donations for the White House ballroom, though he has acknowledged he would need some Republican buy-in.
Rep. Joe Courtney, 73, whose Seapower Subcommittee work touches Connecticut's defense industry, plans to focus on the Navy, submarine programs and delivery deadlines under the AUKUS pact with the United Kingdom and Australia. He also sees oversight targets in the Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar and the White House battleship proposal, and expects the Iran war and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's tenure to dominate the Armed Services Committee.
Hayes is running for the top Democratic spot on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, joining Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici in challenging Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott. The former Waterbury teacher wants to roll back Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill; nearly 63,000 Connecticut residents have lost SNAP benefits since eligibility changed, and Medicaid changes arrive in January.
In the Senate, Richard Blumenthal plans to chair the Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a post he held before, and to lead the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He said he spoke Wednesday with Chuck Schumer and will back him for majority leader. Sen. Chris Murphy, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee for Homeland Security funding, is recovering after being hospitalized for a stroke.
Republicans shut out again
Democrats swept all five of Connecticut's House races Tuesday. Republicans in the state have been shut out of Congress since 2009, when Himes defeated Chris Shays.
State GOP Chairman Ben Proto said the national party must invest time, money and grassroots work to make New England competitive again. He said Republican messaging needs to improve and become more personal, arguing the party has leaned too heavily on its consultant class.
Even with larger majorities, Democrats will face Trump's veto pen and need Republican votes on must-pass bills such as government funding. Bronin said vetoes of measures voters want would be further evidence that the president does not care what Americans want.
