WASHINGTON: The Democratic Party's leader in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, on Thursday (November 5) called on Republicans to work with his party in Congress when the Democrats take the majority in January.

Democrats are framing their sweeping midterm victory as a mandate for change, with broad agreement on tackling "affordability."

This week, consensus emerged on a handful of big-ticket items Democrats aim to pursue once the new Congress convenes next year: making Obamacare health plans more affordable, reversing some of Trump's cuts to Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, and ending his unpopular tariffs and the war in Iran.

Schumer told an audience at the Center for American Progress Action Fund that the Democrats will work with or without the Republicans.