Updated Feb 11, 2026 - Politics & Policy

House Democrats plot barrage of anti-tariff votes

Andrew Solender

Group of men in business attire walking down stairs in an indoor setting, one man in the foreground wears a dark suit and patterned tie, another holds a folder with papers. — Rep. Greg Meeks at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

House Democrats are already planning to force votes overturning at least two of President Trump's tariffs, with more likely to follow, senior lawmakers tell Axios.

Why it matters: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has repeatedly blocked these votes over the past year, but his attempt to do so on Tuesday was thwarted by a trio of Republican defectors in a late-night vote.

Johnson's procedural maneuver to stop Democrats from forcing votes to end Trump's tariffs under the National Emergencies Act failed 214 to 217, with Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) breaking away.

What they're saying: "We are going to do Canada today and follow with Mexico," House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) told Axios in a text message Wednesday morning.

The New York Democrat later told Axios that he also plans to force votes overturning the Brazil and global "Liberation Day" tariffs.
Still, a House Democratic leadership aide cautioned that Republicans may still try to maneuver to block the tariff votes from coming to the floor.

Reality check: While the measures could garner the simple majority needed for Senate passage, Trump could then simply veto it.

It's highly unlikely Congress has the two-thirds majorities in both chambers to overturn his veto.
That means the House votes would effectively be symbolic rebukes of the president's tariffs.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that a simple majority (not 60 votes) is needed for Senate passage. It has also been updated.

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House Democrats plot barrage of anti-tariff votes

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