New House Majority Aims to Cut Grocery Costs
Democrats control both chambers of Congress, but President Trump's veto power remains a barrier to immediate tariff relief.
By Daniela Ortega ·
Grocery prices have risen sharply due to federal tariffs and the war in Iran, a factor that helped Democrats win control of both houses of Congress on Tuesday.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the new majority will prioritize lowering prices when they take office in January. He described the election result as a strong rebuke of the previous administration's economic policies.
"It was a tremendous victory for the American people and a strong rebuke of MAGA extremism, which has made life more expensive for everyday Americans despite their promises to lower the high cost of living on day one," Jeffries told NPR on Friday.
The incoming majority faces a challenge because President Trump remains in office. Senate Democrats will not hold a filibuster-proof majority, which limits their ability to pass legislation over presidential objections. Trump may resist rolling back his signature tariffs or reversing the course of the Iran war, both of which contribute to high food costs.
Lael Brainard, who leads the public policy group The Kitchen Table Project, said Americans expect quick relief from Washington. "They are feeling like they are getting squeezed by high prices that don't need to be that high," she said.
Democrats plan to move forward with efforts to cut grocery bills, including by rolling back Trump's tariffs. These tariffs raised the cost of imported foods and drinks. They also increased the price of machine parts and packaging for the food industry.
The Iran war caused energy prices to surge, making the transport of goods more expensive. Fertilizer costs also rose when the closure of the Strait of Hormuz cut off a large portion of the global fertilizer trade.
Getting the president to agree to these changes could be difficult. Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, noted that while both sides want to reduce grocery costs, there is distance between the president and the incoming Democratic leaders. "I think the president would certainly want to find ways to reduce the cost of groceries. Democrats [also] see that in their interest," Borick said.
Incoming Democratic senators have floated other proposals. James Talarico of Texas said he would push back against changes to the federal food assistance programs WIC and SNAP. Adam Hamilton of Kansas supports a national ban on dynamic pricing in grocery stores. Roy Cooper of North Carolina vowed to block food industry mergers that raise consumer prices.
Democrats also gained ground in state capitals. At least 28 states will have Democratic governors starting next year. Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia proposed letting local cities suspend sales tax on groceries, baby formula, and diapers. Gina Hinojosa, the governor-elect of Texas, promised to outlaw price gouging in grocery stores. Deb Haaland in New Mexico said the state would explore waiving permitting fees for markets in food deserts, similar to a policy in Albuquerque.
A poll released by the Kitchen Table Project and Global Strategy Group in September found that nearly half of respondents wanted their grocery bills lowered within six months.
