By: Ashley Woolheater, Communications Director at the Open Markets Institute  

If Democrats win the House this fall, they will begin a new Congress with a clear mandate not only to hold a corrupt administration to account, but also to confront the concentrated corporate power that has left Americans feeling powerless, paying more for everything while big businesses pocket record profits, drive down wages, control the internet, and buy influence in Washington.  

Democrats recognize that high costs are voters’ number 1, 2 and 3 concerns.  A House majority would give them the opportunity to move beyond rhetoric and take visible action to lower costs and restore democratic and economic power to Americans.  

They could start with popular, immediate steps to demonstrate their ability to deliver. Senator Chris Murphy’s Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act would revive and strengthen enforcement of the long-dormant Robinson-Patman Act, cracking down on price discrimination that advantages large corporations over small businesses. Vigorous enforcement would reduce the cost of groceries and help small businesses while supporting local communities.  

House Democrats should also champion populist consumer protections like “click-to-cancel” and pressure regulators for a nationwide non-compete ban to boost wages. These measures give workers greater freedom to change jobs and earn higher wages and help consumers avoid hidden fees and subscription traps.  

But Democrats must go much further. For decades, both parties have allowed massive corporations and Big Tech to dominate markets and reshape American life in deeply unpopular ways: concentrating wealth, squeezing out small businesses, and converting record profits into political influence that leaves Americans feeling economically and politically powerless. A new House majority must draw a sharper contrast with the hollow populism of their opponents that leaves the unchecked power of corporations intact.  

This will require being unafraid of popular fights, like taking on the dominant technology corporations. Anxiety about the influence of giant tech firms is high and rising—especially in the age of artificial intelligence. Democrats should respond with a proactive agenda that addresses the political, social, and economic concerns that voters across the board are feeling.  

First, they should defend state rights and protect their ability to legislate on AI. State governments are already advancing commonsense AI governance and addressing issues like data center energy and water demand in response to demands from local communities. Preserving this role allows states to both deliver tangible results for people and serve as testing grounds for policies that can later scale nationally.  

Second, House Democrats can advance bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing gatekeeper power online, including the AMERICA Act and American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA). These bills promote fairness in digital markets and help establish rules that will shape how AI systems are developed and distributed so that they benefit the public and not just billionaire investors.  

Finally, Democrats should work with the public to address new corporate threats to the future of reliable news, information, and quality content, and to develop a federal framework for AI governance. Key to both efforts will be aggressive hearings to help lawmakers and the public better understand the magnitude of these challenges and position them for action, on the model of former Rep. David Cicilline’s antitrust hearings during the first Trump Administration.  

If Democrats take the House, they will face competing demands. Focusing on the root cause of our economic and social anxieties and political dysfunction—concentrated, unaccountable power—offers the best way to connect with vast swaths of the American public who feel disenfranchised and adrift. Acting on it would not only deliver tangible benefits but also demonstrate a governing vision that matches the scale of the challenge.