Congress Begins Its Year-End Push Gripped by Midterms Hangover

Congress returns to Washington Monday in an unsettled political environment that will serve as the backdrop for a robust year-end push on spending, taxes and, potentially, raising the debt limit.

Republicans appear on course to gain a narrow House majority next year, putting Democrats under enormous pressure to finish fiscal 2023 spending bills and enact priorities like enshrining same-sex marriage rights into law. In the Senate, Democrats have secured control in the next Congress, lessening the urgency for a rush on judicial confirmations. That bodes for more action on legislation, including the debt ceiling, in the weeks ahead.

“I’m going ...