13 Democratic Leaders on Their Plans to Restore the Country Once They Reclaim Power

The 2026 midterms aren’t just an election— they are a rescue mission. After years of defensive play, Democratic leaders are finally stepping out from the shadows and into the light of restoration. They aren’t just planning to win. They are planning to rebuild the very soul of the country.

The movement has two beating hearts. On one side, Black leaders are standing as the ultimate guardians of democracy, fighting the battle to reclaim the ballot box and protect the progress that took generations to build.

Meanwhile, a populist surge is targeting the boardroom, with leaders vowing to finally tilt the scales back toward the kitchen table and away from corporate giants. It’s a rare moment, but one that is needed, as the fight for civil rights and the fight for a living wage have become the same.

From the front lines of justice to the heart of the working class, these 13 Democratic leaders aren’t just asking for your vote, they are offering a blueprint to take the country back… starting right now.

Hakeem Jeffries (House Minority Leader)

Jeffries advocates for a “First 100 Days” agenda focused on making the Affordable Care Act tax credits permanent, according to his website, and passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to restore federal oversight of local law enforcement.

Wes Moore (Governor of Maryland)

One of Wes Moore’s primary objectives is to help close the racial wealth gap. Moore argues that a Democratic return to power must include a “Work, Wages, and Wealth” agenda, his office announced. The agenda will feature a national service year for youth and massive federal investment in minority-owned businesses to build generational wealth.

Kamala Harris (Former Vice President)

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is fighting for federal restoration of reproductive rights, the American Civil Liberties Union reported. She argues that the first act of a new Democratic majority must be passing a national law to codify abortion access and override state-level bans. She also calls for an all-out mobilization to reclaim the federal judiciary to protect civil liberties.

Rev. Al Sharpton (President, National Action Network)

Sharpton, the founder and president of the National Action Network, insists that Democrats must immediately use executive authority to restore DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies in the military and federal contracting. He demands a specific plan to protect Section II of the Voting Rights Act from further rollbacks and the reinstatement of federal equity standards.

Elizabeth Warren (U.S. Senator, Massachusetts)

Warren’s roadmap for restoration involves passing federal price-gouging laws to lower grocery costs, CNBC reported, and using the FTC to aggressively break up monopolies in the tech and pharmaceutical sectors, ending corporate capture for good.

Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania)

The Shapiro Foundation announced the governor is pushing for a federal version of his Pennsylvania model of cutting taxes for working families while significantly increasing funding for vocational training and police recruitment to prove Democrats can handle both the economy and public safety.

Pete Buttigieg (Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation)

Now out of the Cabinet and on the campaign trail, Buttigieg is the party’s Communicator-in-Chief, vowing to win back the working class by focusing on infrastructure and local economics, bridging the gap between urban progressives and rural voters, the U.S. Department of State announced.

Gavin Newsom (Governor of California)

Newsom, the Green and Rights Vanguard, positions the party as the “Anti-Authoritarian” force. His restoration plan involves a mandatory federal transition to renewable energy, his office reported, and using federal power to sue states that restrict civil or voting rights.

Chuck Schumer (Senate Minority Leader)

Sen. Schumer’s focus is on reversing budget cuts to social programs in an effort to restore the social safety net. He argues that once back in power, Democrats must immediately lower prescription drug costs for all ages, boost funding for Social Security and improve access for beneficiaries by reversing Trump cuts, his office announced.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (U.S. Representative, New York)

Ocasio-Cortez directs the party to treat care, specifically universal child care, as a public good. Her specific mandate for a new majority is to cap child care costs at $10 a day for all American families with the Child Care for Every Community Act, her office announced in February.

Zohran Mamdani (Mayor of New York City)

The Atlantic reported Mamdani argues for national rent control and a massive federal “Social Housing” build-out to eliminate homelessness and make urban living affordable for the working class, and housing as a human right.

Adriano Espaillat (U.S. Representative, New York)

Leading the Hispanic Caucus, Espaillat insists that the party must immediately end mass deportation tactics and create a clear, streamlined pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents and Dreamers, according to his office.

Maxwell Frost (U.S. Representative, Florida)

Frost argues that Democrats must use their power to pass a national ban on assault weapons, his office said, and eliminate “junk fees” for renters, framing these as the most critical issues for restoring the dignity of young Americans and ending the gun violence epidemic.