# WATCH LIVE: House returns to Washington after blowout election for Democrats

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/watch-live-house-returns-to-washington-after-blowout-election-for-democrats/
- Published: 2026-11-09T17:00:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T20:56:06+00:00
- Original publisher: PBS NewsHour (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-house-returns-to-washington-after-blowout-election-for-democrats
- Topics: Elections, Government, Politics

## Key points

- Democrats’ midterm gains set up a change in House control in January.
- Congress has six weeks to address leadership and government funding.
- Lawmakers may vote on impeaching Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

## Summary

Congress returned to Washington after Democrats’ decisive midterm gains, which will shift control of the House when the new Congress begins on 3 January 2027. The results leave Republicans facing a difficult final stretch in power, while President Donald Trump has continued to defend his administration and its actions.

The House and Senate have six weeks in a lame-duck session, with leadership elections and government funding among the priorities. A resolution to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to come before the House, driven by Republican Thomas Massie over Hegseth’s leadership during the Iran war; Democrats support the measure, and some Republicans may join them. Trump defended Hegseth, while House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the secretary should leave office.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.