Thousands of Democrats Gather in Denver for 'What's Next' Conference

Thousands of Democrats attended a three-day "What's Next" conference in Denver, Colorado, the first major gathering of the party since its sweeping victory in the 2026 midterm elections. Midterms are the national elections held halfway through a president's term, when all seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate are contested.

In those elections, Democrats won sizable majorities in both chambers of Congress, the House and the Senate, and expanded their control of governorships and state legislatures. Democrats are set to become the congressional majority in January. The Guardian reported from the Denver event.

Attendees included lawmakers, strategists, pollsters, creators, organizers, staffers and several potential 2028 presidential candidates. The conference was planned months in advance by Majority Democrats, a group that is new.

The gathering also drew attention to a leadership contest. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is challenging Chuck Schumer for the post of Senate majority leader, the top leadership role for the party that holds the majority in the chamber.

Conference organizers and the speakers who addressed the crowd set the agenda for the three days, which was focused on the party's direction after the election. Coverage of the sessions and their outcomes continued through the week.

The Guardian noted that the gathering came as the party prepares to take up its new responsibilities in Congress.