The Democracy Alliance, a major network of liberal donors, is setting its sights on shifting control of the US House of Representatives in the 2026 election cycle, starting with the advancements made in New York and California during the recent elections.
Pamela Shifman, the president of the Democracy Alliance, highlighted the group’s intent to counteract the setbacks faced by Democrats, including the loss of both the White House and the Senate, by focusing efforts on House races. Shifman emphasized the importance of minimizing potential negative impacts from the current administration and expressed confidence in building a substantial Democratic majority in the House over the next two years.
The Democracy Alliance has not yet established a budget for the 2026 elections. However, their previous efforts saw over $11 million invested in campaigns that aided in flipping House seats in New York. This success has narrowed the Republican majority significantly. “We have momentum,” Shifman stated, affirming confidence in their strategy to continue winning House seats.
The possibility of investing in special elections in New York and Florida to fill Republican vacancies remains open, as Shifman noted. This reflects the Alliance’s flexible approach in pursuing opportunities to reinforce the Democratic presence in Congress. The group, since its inception in 2005, has contributed over $2 billion to support progressive causes and consists of about 120 members. These members include influential labor unions, foundations, and affluent individuals who are required to contribute financially to promote liberal policies.
Despite facing challenging political circumstances, Democrats managed to gain an additional seat in the House during the recent elections, with Republicans winning 220 seats compared to Democrats’ 215. The Republican majority is expected to become even narrower as incoming vacancies arise from Republican members transitioning into roles within the Trump administration, such as the former representative Matt Gaetz and others from New York and Florida.
The Democracy Alliance has already supported Democratic victories in California and New York, victories that were attributed to strong field organization powered by established labor and activist groups. For example, in the “Battleground New York” initiative, the collaboration among unions and activist groups led to the registration of over 25,000 new voters and extensive door-to-door interactions.
Looking forward, New York and California will remain focal points for the 2026 midterms. Shifman conveyed the importance of expanding the Democratic voter base nationwide and that the Alliance will determine key district targets based on meticulous data analysis from previous election cycles. Shifman mentioned that nearly 90 million eligible voters chose not to vote in the last election, which she considers a massive opportunity for organizing efforts.
By capitalizing on recent electoral successes and prioritizing strategic investments, the Democracy Alliance aims to expand the Democratic stronghold in the House through meticulous planning and extensive voter outreach efforts.
