Congress
'We can't let them down' — After midterm wins, Democrats turn to charting path ahead November 14, 20262:13 PM ETBy
Texas Senator-elect James Talarico speaks at the Mission Ballroom during the What's Next Denver political convention on Nov. 12, 2026. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption
David Zalubowski/APDENVER — Democrats descended on Denver for a two-day conference that was half victory party, half sober look at the road ahead on delivering for the voters who elected them.
The "What's Next" conference, hosted by the group Majority Democrats, was scheduled long before Democrats outperformed expectations with their best electoral performance since Watergate. It brought together rising stars — like incoming Gov. Rob Sand in Iowa and Sen.-elect James Talarico in Texas — along with strategists, organizers, state and federal lawmakers and potential presidential contenders.
