Jeffries Kicks Off 100-Day Midterm Sprint with Affordability Focus
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday launched the party’s 100-day sprint to the November midterm elections, unveiling a “Fighting for an Affordable America” agenda at a union hall rally in battleground Pennsylvania as Democrats seek to flip control of the narrowly divided House.
Speaking at the United Steelworkers Union Hall in Bethlehem alongside Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and congressional candidate Bob Brooks, Jeffries laid out a platform centered on lowering the cost of groceries, gas, and housing; restoring healthcare cuts; ending the war with Iran; and banning stock trading for members of Congress, according to AP News.
“When you put us back in charge of the United States House of Representatives, you’ll get a Congress that speaks up for everyday Americans and a Congress that stands up to an out-of-control president,” Jeffries told the crowd of approximately 150 people gathered at the union hall.
High Stakes in a Razor-Thin House
The event marked the start of a concerted Democratic push to win back the House, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 217-212 majority with five vacancies and one independent. A shift of just a few seats in November could flip control, making every competitive district a national battleground.
“We have just 100 days until the midterm election, 100 days to change direction in this country,” Jeffries said. “This is no longer a marathon; it’s a sprint. And there’s no better place to begin that sprint than right here in the steelworkers union hall in Bethlehem.”
The choice of Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District was no accident. The Lehigh Valley seat is held by freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who won by a razor-thin 1 percentage point in 2024. President Donald Trump visited the district in June to campaign for Mackenzie at a Mack Trucks plant, underscoring the race’s importance.
A Working-Class Candidate
Democrats are pinning their hopes on Bob Brooks, a retired Bethlehem firefighter and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, which represents approximately 8,000 members. Brooks’ personal story — growing up in public housing, relying on food stamps, working as a bartender and beer truck driver before serving 20-plus years as a firefighter — offers a working-class authenticity that Democrats believe can resonate in a district Trump has carried.
“I’ve lived in public housing. I’ve relied on food stamps when times were hard. I’ve had to choose between paying the medical bills and paying the mortgage,” Brooks said at the rally, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’ve worked hard, and I made it out of a fire. I’m proud to be standing here today.”
Brooks has narrowed the fundraising gap with Mackenzie: while the incumbent has raised approximately $4.5 million total to Brooks’ $2.3 million, Brooks outraised Mackenzie $1.2 million to $631,000 in the post-primary period from late April through June.
Nationalizing the Election
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Jeffries framed the midterms as a referendum on Trump’s second term, arguing that Republicans have “nothing to run on” after the president’s failure to deliver on campaign promises, The Guardian reported.
“It was Donald Trump who promised to lower costs on day one. But we know that costs haven’t gone down in this country. Costs have gone up,” Jeffries said. He pointed to the war with Iran, which began in February 2026, as a driver of rising prices, noting that Trump had pledged to avoid “endless wars in the Middle East.”
As of July 27, 18 US service members have been killed and hundreds more injured in the Iran conflict. Gas and grocery prices have soared amid the instability. Exclusive polling conducted for the Guardian found that 95% of Americans believe the country is suffering an affordability crisis.
Jeffries also attacked Republicans for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid. “They have nothing to run on,” he said. “We’re going to run on fighting for an affordable America.”
Republican Counter-Messaging
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded on Fox News, acknowledging the affordability crisis but placing blame on Democrats and the Biden presidency. “All these things will only get better if given two more years with a Republican Congress” in November, Leavitt said.
Pennsylvania’s Pivotal Role
Pennsylvania is arguably the most important state for determining House control. Beyond PA-07, Democrats are targeting Republican-held seats in PA-01 (Bucks County), PA-08 (Lackawanna County), and PA-10 (Harrisburg area). Shapiro, widely seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has invested heavily in down-ballot races, with his campaign giving more than $3.3 million to the state party since fall 2025.
“We are, of course, the swingiest swing state,” Shapiro said at the rally.
The 100-Day Outlook
According to Decision Desk HQ, Democrats are likely to win a majority in the House, while Republicans are narrowly favored to retain the Senate. Fewer than 20 House seats nationally are considered genuine toss-ups, meaning the battle for control will be fought on a remarkably narrow battlefield.
The next 100 days will see intensive campaigning focused on affordability, the Iran war, and the broader referendum on Trump’s second term. With both parties marking the milestone — House Speaker Mike Johnson is also fundraising cross-country for GOP candidates — the sprint to November 3 is officially underway.