House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has launched the final 100-day push to the U.S. midterm elections, telling voters that Democrats would focus on reducing the cost of living if they regain control of Congress.
Jeffries made the pledge on Sunday during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania alongside Democratic congressional candidate Bob Brooks, who is seeking to unseat Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie.
“In 100 days, you can vote for an America that is affordable and lower the cost of groceries, gas, and housing. In 100 days, you can vote for an America where affordable healthcare is available to every single citizen,” Jeffries said.
Brooks, a firefighter union leader, is contesting one of the most competitive House races after Mackenzie won the seat in 2024 by fewer than 5,000 votes.
During the rally, Jeffries outlined other priorities Democrats would pursue if they reclaim the House majority. These include challenging President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, pushing for an end to the ongoing conflict in Iran and demanding the release of additional Justice Department files linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
However, Jeffries repeatedly returned to economic issues, describing affordability as the party’s central message.
“In 100 days, you can vote for an America where young people have a chance to purchase a home and start a family,” he said.
“In 100 days, you can vote for an America that keeps our promise to our cherished seniors by protecting your Social Security and your Medicare.”
Current projections indicate Democrats need to gain just three seats to win back control of the House of Representatives. If that happens, Jeffries would become the first Black Speaker of the House in U.S. history.
Republicans, meanwhile, remain favourites to retain control of the Senate, with Democrats needing to flip four Republican-held seats while defending all of their own.
The GOP has recently argued that Democratic candidates have shifted further to the political left following a series of progressive primary victories.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned earlier this month that Republicans were trying to stop what he described as a move toward communism.
“We’re fighting right now in Congress over whether we’re going to maintain our status as a constitutional republic or we’re going to trade that in, dismantle the foundations and go down this dark road of death to communism,” Johnson said.
Jeffries rejected that characterisation, promising that a Democratic majority would focus on holding powerful interests accountable.
“We are going to hold the crooks accountable,” Jeffries said.
“Anyone who is stealing from the American people, screwing over the American people or short-changing the American people is going to be held accountable, beginning on day one.”
