Democrats win big in the US midterms, and now face the pressure of delivering on their promises

Democrats have won a big victory in the recently held US midterm elections. But the win has also placed a major responsibility on the party's victorious leaders to meet voters' expectations — delivering on the promises made during the campaign is now the main challenge before them.

According to an Al Jazeera analysis, Democrats campaigned on promises to bring down the cost of living, end the war with Iran, hold President Donald Trump to account, and take a stand against his hardline immigration policies.

The cost of living was one of the most important issues for voters in Tuesday's midterms. Dean Baker, an economist and co-founder of the US-based Center for Economic and Policy Research, said one of the most effective steps Democrats could take to lower living costs would be to move to end the war with Iran.

In Baker's view, Democrats can use Congress's investigative and oversight powers to pressure the Trump administration to stop the war, which could give consumers some relief.

Alex Jacquez, head of policy and campaigns at the progressive economic research organisation Groundwork Collaborative, said that with a majority in Congress, Democrats can use its committees to investigate companies that have raised prices across sectors from everyday goods to electricity bills.

Democrats may also move to impeach Trump administration officials. Lawmakers have already brought impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on several charges, one of which is that he conducted a war against Iran without congressional approval.

However, even if an impeachment article against a government official passes the House of Representatives, the matter must be settled through a trial in the Senate, where the support of two-thirds of members would be required.

According to financial disclosures published early this year, Trump's personal wealth has grown by about $2.2 billion since the start of his term. Over the past two years his family's business empire has also expanded into sectors including cryptocurrency, drones, artificial intelligence and prediction markets, and those sectors have received policy benefits from the government. Analysts believe Democrats will open investigations into these as well.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the foreign-policy research organisation Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, believes this moment is Trump's important opportunity to intensify the war against Iran further. He said a tendency has been seen in Trump to become more reckless in the face of humiliation and defeat.

Democrats could also bring a binding resolution to end the war. Under the US Constitution, the sole power to declare war rests with Congress, and under the 1973 War Powers Act, lawmakers can move to end an unauthorised conflict once it passes 60 days.

Trump could, however, veto a resolution brought by Democrats, so there is no guarantee these moves would succeed. Experts say the most effective way to limit Trump's war-making power is Congress's control over government spending.

The administration also faces pressure on immigration. A public opinion survey published early this year found that 65 percent of US citizens believe the immigration and customs enforcement agency ICE has 'gone too far' in its activities.

With control of both chambers of Congress, Democrats can open investigations into ICE and the other agencies involved in the operation. Heidi Altman, vice president for policy at the National Immigration Project, said the Trump administration has been given about $240 billion for immigration enforcement over the past two years, and that Congress could move to claw back a large part of that money. In Altman's words, the only way to slow the immigration operation and genuinely introduce decision-making, priority-setting and law-enforcement process is to cut their budget sharply; she believes the huge sum is why ICE is able to operate with almost no restraint.