Democrats see another wave on the horizon
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Giddy Senate Democrats are already plotting a second round of red-state takedowns in 2028.
Why it matters: Democrats think 2028 has the same ingredients that helped them flip so many seats last week, including an unpopular president and another promising red-state map.
- "Waves last two cycles," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is seeking to remain chair of the Democratic campaign arm for another cycle, told Axios about repeating the 2026 playbook.
- She pointed to 2006 and 2008, when Democrats gained and then grew their majorities in both chambers.
Zoom in: Republican senators in Florida, North Carolina, Iowa and Kansas are up for reelection next cycle, all states Democrats flipped or almost flipped last week.
- Sen. Ron Johnson's (R) seat in Wisconsin is her No. 1 target.
- Gillibrand is starting to keep an eye out for promising candidates — even as she waits to be reelected as DSCC chair.
What she's saying: "Sometimes you need the strong candidate standing there to take advantage of whatever happens," Gillibrand said, pointing to Sens.-elect Annie Andrews (D-S.C.), Adam Hamilton (D-Kan.) and Scott Colom, who is leading in Mississippi.
- She boasted that she saw promise in those candidates long before their races became competitive — even holding a fundraiser for the Mississippi race in March.
Zoom out: Gillibrand emphasized the need for Democrats to take real action to lower costs if they want to ensure their chance at a two-cycle wave.
The priorities: End the Iran war and/or end the tariffs.
- She suggested Democrats should refuse to pass spending bills that fund the war in Iran, though she acknowledged President Trump is good at finding ways to move money around.
- Gillibrand also sees expanding health care access as an imperative.
- "Some kind of Medicare for All is going to be very appealing," Gillibrand said. "If you can't get the full Medicare for All, then get the buy-in. Get the 55 to 65. Just expand Medicare."
Between the lines: The political landscape can change fast. Republicans entered the 2026 cycle confident they could expand their Senate majority. Instead, they got crushed.
The intrigue: Gillibrand thinks Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will win the majority leader job, despite speculation about a potential challenge from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
- Gillibrand had breakfast with Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) on Monday morning. She said the leadership election did not come up. El Sayed has expressed support for Van Hollen.
What's next: Democrats will have their first opportunity to show force over government spending before they take power — with a government shutdown deadline of Dec. 11.
- Gillibrand expects Democrats to use their hard-earned leverage from the election.
- "I think we're going to fight hard on issues that we know the American people are with us on: Ending the war in Iran, ending the tariffs, focusing on health care, focusing on costs," Gillibrand said of the debate expected over the next couple of weeks.
