THE sweeping Democratic election victories in the US Senate and House of Representatives will reshuffle leadership of both chambers when the next Congress is sworn in on January 3.

Parties in both chambers are expected to choose their leadership teams after Congress returns to Washington, DC, next week.

With government control divided between a Democratic-led Congress and Republican President Donald Trump, Democrats are expected to concentrate on lowering the cost of living and subjecting the Trump administration to congressional oversight.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that he will not serve as House minority leader next year. That decision has led to a contest that so far includes House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, two Republicans who launched failed bids to become speaker after party hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy from the top chamber post in 2023.