# How Democrats can keep winning, according to Rahm Emanuel

> The former Chicago mayor and Democratic strategist explains what his party must do in 2027 to hold their new congressional majorities through 2028.
- Title: How Democrats can keep winning, according to Rahm Emanuel
- Summary: The former Chicago mayor and Democratic strategist explains what his party must do in 2027 to hold their new congressional majorities through 2028.
- Keywords: rahm emanuel, democrats, congress, 2026 midterms, 2028 election, legislation, ethics reform, minimum wage, tariffs, hakeem jeffries, chuck schumer, Vox
- Source: Vox — https://vox.com/politics/509582/rahm-emanuel-2026-midterms-democratic-majorities-congress
- Author: Cameron Peters
- Published: 2026-11-05T21:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: rahm emanuel, democrats, congress, 2026 midterms, 2028 election, legislation, ethics reform, minimum wage, tariffs, hakeem jeffries, chuck schumer, news
## Democrats win sweeping majorities
Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterms as voters turned away from President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
## A familiar moment from 2006
Two decades ago, voters unhappy with President George W. Bush and the Iraq War propelled Democrats to congressional majorities in the two thousand six midterms.
## Emanuel's role in 2006 and 2008
Rahm Emanuel led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in two thousand six to take back the House, became caucus chair, and helped add another twenty seats in two thousand eight.
## This is a repudiation, not vindication
Emanuel says the midterms represent a repudiation of Republicans, not a vindication of Democrats. He calls it a tsunami with Watergate numbers, not just a blue wave.

> This is a repudiation of the Republicans, not a vindication of the Democrats.
## Build a broad coalition
Democrats have a broad-based coalition including non-MAGA Republicans and independents. Emanuel says they must solidify this as a working coalition, not treat the election as transactional.

> The voters voted for change, not a Democratic version of more of the same.
## Power-wash Washington ethics
Emanuel calls for banning stock trading, banning prediction market participation, mandatory blind trusts, and mandatory term limits or retirement age for all three branches.
## The Jared Kushner rule
Emanuel proposes no foreign money while in government and no foreign money two years after leaving office, targeting arrangements like Saudi and Qatari blind trusts.

> No foreign money while in government and no foreign money two years after.
## Raise the minimum wage
Emanuel says Democrats should pass a minimum wage increase to twenty dollars by twenty thirty, noting the last increase came when Nancy Pelosi was speaker.
## Repeal Trump's tariffs
Emanuel calls for repealing all tariffs driving prices up. He says all these proposals will get bipartisan votes and put Trump in a position where he either signs or vetoes.

> You sign it, we win; you veto it, we win.
## Legislate and investigate both
Emanuel says Democrats should do investigations into foreign money and Jared Kushner's accounts, but legislation is the priority. He opposes impeachment as focusing on one person.

> That's not change. That's the predicate.
## Hakeem Jeffries as speaker
Emanuel praises House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as a consensus builder who takes his family and faith seriously, and knows what he wants to accomplish.
## Jeffries has room to lead
With larger numbers, Jeffries will have the liberty to move forward without being held hostage by individual members. At two hundred fifty seats, he can say no to demands.

> When you're at 250, Hakeem has the liberty to say, "When you walk out of here, make sure the door doesn't hit you."
## Keep the coalition for 2028
Emanuel says Democrats must know who built their winning coalition, including Republicans and independents. To keep winning, they cannot rely only on Democrats in swing states.

> If you want to keep going and keep winning and solidifying this coalition, you have to know who was part of it.
## Govern for the nation, not the party
Emanuel says President Biden pledged to govern and bring America together but spent much of his presidency bringing the party together instead, which cost him politically.
## 2028 will have many choices
Unlike two thousand twenty-four when the party had no choice in its nominee, Emanuel says twenty twenty-eight will offer many options. He declines to pick a candidate himself.

> In 2028, you're going to have Baskin-Robbins, 31 flavors.
## Key takeaway

Rahm Emanuel says Democrats must use their 2026 midterm victories to pass legislation on ethics, wages and tariffs rather than focus solely on investigations, to keep the broad coalition that elected them.