Election 2018

In the face of tough questioning from House members, CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger appeared mostly unfazed and tried to strike a balance between heeding concerns about the agency’s power and supporting its mission to help consumers.

The lineup of new members to the House Financial Services Committee includes several rising Democratic stars.

Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee are expected to shine a spotlight on Trump-appointed regulators, but that light might shine brightest on one agency in particular.

Reps. Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver, both from Missouri, have shown interest in running the panel that could be a focal point in efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Democrat, who will likely head the Financial Services Committee, has signaled she'll make expanded housing opportunities for lower-income consumers a top priority.

The end of one-party rule in Washington could move the needle on efforts to devise a new housing finance framework.

Mortgage rates rose significantly across the board as the economy continued to show resilience with strong business activity and growth in employment, according to Freddie Mac.

Real estate and mortgage industry groups outspent proponents 3-to-1 to defeat Proposition 10, a measure to allow California municipalities to set local rent control laws.

The midterm elections virtually eliminate the chance that progress will be made on financial services legislation.

The presumptive chair of the House Financial Services Committee will likely take the panel in a sharply new direction and have a new bully pulpit to criticize the Trump administration.

The focus since the 2016 election on easing rules, tax cuts and expanding access to credit is about to be turned on its head.

Several Senate, House and gubernatorial battles are of interest to financial firms. Here is a spotlight on specific contests, with updates as they become available.

The battle gaining the most attention Tuesday night will be which party controls the House next year. But other key races will help determine the makeup of the Senate Banking Committee.

The housing finance agency, which is increasingly at the forefront of reform discussions, has been without a permanent chief for almost two years.

The result could play a big role in whether banks see more regulatory relief next year or policymakers can coalesce around a housing finance reform plan.

Proposition 10 would give local jurisdictions a freer hand to restrict rents, but critics say that would lead to property devaluations. Some see an effect regardless of whether the measure passes.

At least six Trump administration picks to fill financial posts are still pending, but the bitterly partisan divide over Judge Brett Kavanaugh has taken up most of the energy in Congress.

The California Democrat would have more of a bully pulpit as chair of the Financial Services Committee, but some say she could take a pragmatic approach to passing banking legislation.