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By Meg Kinnard

October 09, 2026

Democrats hope to bring a new agenda to the House next year if they take the majority, but they will most likely do so with many of the same faces that have steered their party's legislative work for a decade or more.

Plus, the 2028 shadow campaign, Washington bureau chief Anna Johnson's story picks and what I'm reading this week.

The Headline

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democrats eye return to power with many of the same faces crafting their agenda — By Kevin Freking

Potential committee chairs in the next Congress include Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who has served as top Democrat on the House Homeland Security panel since 2005.

Then, there's Adam Smith of Washington, who began serving as top Democrat on Armed Services in 2011, and Rep. Maxine Waters of California, who became the lead Democrat on Financial Services in 2013.

Other longtime committee leaders include Reps. Frank Pallone at Energy and Commerce and Bobby Scott at Education and Workforce, who assumed their leadership posts in 2015. Rep. Richie Neal became the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee in 2017.

None would be able to continue in that position under the rules used by House Republicans, which generally limit lawmakers to three terms as chairman or ranking member.

For Democrats, the question is whether to stick with their current system, which emphasizes seniority, or move closer to the one that Republicans have established. It's a discussion that some Democrats say they are having behind the scenes.

Dive deeper ➤

Potential presidential candidates are positioning themselves during midterms

An, " I Voted Today," sticker is stuck to an information sign at Olbrich Gardens, Aug. 11, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects — By Steve Peoples, Jill Colvin and Joey Cappelletti

As most of the political world focuses on next month's midterm elections, the shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out in public view.

Democratic and Republican presidential prospects have been crisscrossing the country, raising money and tapping their political connections to help boost their parties' candidates — and their own White House ambitions.

There are too many potential presidential contenders to list in this space, but we've take a closer look at some of the leading prospects and how their political futures may be influenced by what happens on Nov. 3.

In this photo obtained by The Associated Press, smoke rises from an Iranian drone strike at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, which killed multiple U.S. soldiers and injured dozens more. (AP Photo)

I am highlighting an incredible package of stories we published earlier this week.

Exclusive: Soldiers and Gold Star families press Army leadership after deadly Iranian drone strike — By Jack Brook, Konstantin Toropin, Julie Watson and Russ Bynum

Soldiers seriously wounded in Iranian drone strike tell AP the military’s medical system failed them — By Julie Watson, Jack Brook and Konstantin Toropin

‘He’s not coming back': Months after deadly Iranian attack, families of soldiers struggle to cope — By Russ Bynum and Jack Brook

Jack, Konstantin, Julie, Russ and many others across the AP contributed to tell the story of what happened on March 1 when Iranian drones struck Port Shuaiba in Kuwait killing six US soldiers. The three stories showcase different elements of what happened before, during, immediately after and in the months after the attack.

What’s really remarkable is breadth and depth of their reporting including having so many troops still in the Army speak on the record.

The video interviews by Nick Ingram and Thomas Peipert also are strong and worth a watch.

Political book club: What's on Meg Kinnard's reading list

The Supreme Court is pictured Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

With a new Supreme Court term starting this week, I felt like it was time to read something on the high court generally — and on the current court specifically.

This week I picked up "Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court," which came out earlier this year and was written by Sarah Isgur.

In addition to being an attorney, former Justice Department spokesperson and political operative, Isgur is editor of SCOTUSblog, which has always been one of my go-to sources for accessible explanations of the questions before the court in big cases.

Her book helped me out this week in particular, not just for a primer on the court's history and its place in the American story, but also for insights into its current iteration. Isgur goes deep to explain for us non-lawyers why, even with a conservative majority, the court isn't always split along those lines specifically.

One extraordinary photo

President Donald Trump reacts as a video plays on a screen at a campaign rally at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)