Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn't waste any time after Democrats secured control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. On Wednesday, he took to X with a clear message: the party needs to "aggressively fight for working families" at a time of "massive income and wealth inequality."

"Democrats will now control the House and Senate and be able to hold Trump accountable. That's great," Sanders wrote. But he wasn't done. "At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, we must do more. We must aggressively fight for working families. No more excuses."

It's a familiar refrain from the Vermont senator, who has long argued that Democrats need to deliver tangible economic results for ordinary Americans. With both chambers now in Democratic hands, the pressure is on to turn campaign promises into policy.

Warren Congratulates Haaland, Praises Her Fight for Working Families

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also weighed in, congratulating Deb Haaland on her gubernatorial victory in New Mexico. "I've watched @DebHaalandNM fight for working families, protect our public lands, and stand up to the powerful for years," Warren wrote on X on Wednesday. She added that Haaland was "continuing that fight as the next Governor for New Mexico."

Haaland's win is one of several bright spots for Democrats, who flipped key Senate seats and held others. The party's success in the midterms has emboldened progressive voices like Sanders and Warren, who see a mandate for bold economic policies.

Greene Blasts Trump's Tariffs and Economic Record

Not everyone was celebrating. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted her own take on the results, describing the election as "a total referendum on Trump." Greene, once a staunch Trump ally, didn't hold back.

She accused the former president of putting "his rich elite donors before the struggling Americans who put him in office" and said he "made life unaffordable with his tariffs." She also blamed him for causing "gas and diesel prices to skyrocket while he played the market and sold crypto." Greene added that Republicans needed to "drastically change course."

Her comments underscore the deep divisions within the Republican Party after a bruising midterm cycle. Trump's tariff policies, which he touted as a tool to protect American workers, have become a lightning rod for criticism, even from within his own party.

Pelosi's Pre-Election Criticism of Trump's Economic Policies

Before the midterms, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had already been hammering Trump on affordability, accusing him of failing to deliver on his promise to lower costs. "Inflation is accelerating, tariffs are driving up prices and working families are paying the price while Trump and his billionaire friends cash in," Pelosi wrote.

White House spokesperson Matthew Middleton disputed that criticism, saying the administration was committed to making life more affordable for American families and citing tax relief for workers. But the election results suggest voters weren't buying it.

Senate Victories and Trump's $5,000 Pledge

Democrats secured key Senate victories, including Sen. Jon Ossoff's (D-Ga.) reelection, Roy Cooper's victory in North Carolina and Sen. Mark Warner's (D-Va.) reelection. Those wins, combined with gains in the House, give Democrats a powerful platform to push their agenda.

Meanwhile, SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci questioned Trump's September $5,000 dividend pledge after Democrats captured the Senate. "I'm starting to think we won't all be getting $5000 checks," Scaramucci wrote on X. Reuters estimated that payments to about 240 million adults would cost $1.2 trillion, a hefty price tag that now seems even less likely to materialize.

With Democrats in control of Congress, the next two years are shaping up to be a battle over economic policy, and the midterm results have clearly energized both sides. Sanders and Warren want to push for bold progressive reforms, while Greene and others are calling for a reckoning within the GOP. One thing is certain: the fight over working families and affordability is just getting started.