Progressive Caucus to top 105 House members as 6 of 9 endorsed candidates win

The Congressional Progressive Caucus said Sunday it will welcome more than 25 new members, growing from 100 members in the last Congress to more than 105 lawmakers ¹. Chair Greg Casar of Texas called it the largest class of progressive members in the caucus's history ².

The caucus endorsed nine candidates in competitive races that Democrats were trying to flip from red to blue. Six won, including in seats Donald Trump had carried ¹.

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Wins in Trump-friendly seats

Randy Villegas won in California, where Trump took the district by two points in 2024. Katy Padilla Stout won in Texas by eight points in a district Trump carried by 15 ¹. Sam Forstag won in Montana, where Trump won by 11 ¹.

Many of the newcomers ran on Medicare for All, stronger worker protections and ending U.S. arms and military support for Israel over its conduct in Gaza ¹. Medicare for All would replace private health insurance with a government-run plan.

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Progressive ideas won that election,

Pramila Jayapal of Washington, the caucus's chair emerita, said she was surprised by the wins from candidates in risky races who campaigned on Medicare for All ¹. She said the caucus plans to take the message on the road, including to South Carolina and Florida ¹.

Moderates are growing too

The progressives are not the only bloc gaining. The centrist New Democrat Coalition, already the largest House Democratic caucus at 114 members, is expected to add about 39, 30 of them from flipped seats ¹.

The centrist think tank Third Way argues that moderates "delivered" the majority. It says candidates backed by the New Democrats, Blue Dogs and WelcomePAC flipped 31 Republican-held seats, 25 of them in districts Trump won ¹.

What happens next

Casar said the caucus would bring bills on wages, corruption, housing costs, credit card interest rates and child care to the floor, and he said he was not worried about vetoes ¹. Republicans will still hold the White House. Casar argued a bigger majority could pass things, such as Social Security expansion and taxing billionaires, that narrow majorities have failed to pass ².

The best way to not get something into law is to never pass it,

Casar did not commit when asked whether the caucus would back Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. He said every member will have an individual vote ¹. So far, none of the incoming members endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America have committed to supporting Jeffries ¹.

That matters because the speaker's vote is the first test of how much power the left has in the new majority. The Guardian notes that whether the left sets the agenda will depend on how the new members vote, in the speaker's race and beyond ¹.

Six Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates also won House seats in safely Democratic districts ¹. One of them, Chris Rabb of Pennsylvania, cast himself as a bridge-builder who intends to find common ground with colleagues across the ideological spectrum ¹.

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Midterm election; six of nine Progressive Caucus-endorsed candidates in competitive red-to-blue races won ¹.
2. Nov 8, 2026Caucus held a press event welcoming more than 25 new members, bringing its ranks to more than 105 ¹².

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<h2>Progressive Caucus to top 105 House members as 6 of 9 endorsed candidates win</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/progressive-caucus-to-top-105-house-members-as-6-of-9-endorsed-candidates-win">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 9, 2026.</em></p> <p>The Congressional Progressive Caucus said Sunday it will welcome more than 25 new members, growing from 100 members in the last Congress to more than 105 lawmakers . Chair Greg Casar of Texas called it the largest class of progressive members in the caucus&#39;s history .</p> <p>The caucus endorsed nine candidates in competitive races that Democrats were trying to flip from red to blue. Six won, including in seats Donald Trump had carried .</p> <h2>Wins in Trump-friendly seats</h2> <p>Randy Villegas won in California, where Trump took the district by two points in 2024. Katy Padilla Stout won in Texas by eight points in a district Trump carried by 15 . Sam Forstag won in Montana, where Trump won by 11 .</p> <p>Many of the newcomers ran on Medicare for All, stronger worker protections and ending U.S. arms and military support for Israel over its conduct in Gaza . Medicare for All would replace private health insurance with a government-run plan.</p> <blockquote><p>Progressive ideas won that election,</p><p>&mdash; Greg Casar, Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democrat-Texas</p></blockquote> <p>Pramila Jayapal of Washington, the caucus&#39;s chair emerita, said she was surprised by the wins from candidates in risky races who campaigned on Medicare for All . She said the caucus plans to take the message on the road, including to South Carolina and Florida .</p> <h2>Moderates are growing too</h2> <p>The progressives are not the only bloc gaining. The centrist New Democrat Coalition, already the largest House Democratic caucus at 114 members, is expected to add about 39, 30 of them from flipped seats .</p> <p>The centrist think tank Third Way argues that moderates &quot;delivered&quot; the majority. It says candidates backed by the New Democrats, Blue Dogs and WelcomePAC flipped 31 Republican-held seats, 25 of them in districts Trump won .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Casar said the caucus would bring bills on wages, corruption, housing costs, credit card interest rates and child care to the floor, and he said he was not worried about vetoes . Republicans will still hold the White House. Casar argued a bigger majority could pass things, such as Social Security expansion and taxing billionaires, that narrow majorities have failed to pass .</p> <blockquote><p>The best way to not get something into law is to never pass it,</p><p>&mdash; Greg Casar, Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democrat-Texas</p></blockquote> <p>Casar did not commit when asked whether the caucus would back Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. He said every member will have an individual vote . So far, none of the incoming members endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America have committed to supporting Jeffries .</p> <p>That matters because the speaker&#39;s vote is the first test of how much power the left has in the new majority. The Guardian notes that whether the left sets the agenda will depend on how the new members vote, in the speaker&#39;s race and beyond .</p> <p>Six Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates also won House seats in safely Democratic districts . One of them, Chris Rabb of Pennsylvania, cast himself as a bridge-builder who intends to find common ground with colleagues across the ideological spectrum .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/progressive-caucus-to-top-105-house-members-as-6-of-9-endorsed-candidates-win">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/progressive-caucus-to-top-105-house-members-as-6-of-9-endorsed-candidates-win.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “Progressives head to US House in record numbers after winning red districts” (2026-11-09). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/09/progressives-us-house-fl
2. CBS News (via Yahoo News), “New House members on their top priorities: "Cannot be afraid to do big things"” (2026-11-08). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/house-members-top-prioritie

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