The Center for American Progress Action Fund and Upswing Research explain in this memo how Democrats should rise to meet America’s affordability crisis in the months ahead. The lesson voters in New Jersey and Virginia have for national Democrats is to increase its focus on groceries and utility bills heading into 2026.
In order to grow the battleground such as Democrats did in New Jersey and Virginia, Democrats must draw an explicit contrast with Republican policies that have increased the cost of groceries and utility bills. Housing and health care are important considerations for specific voters and campaigns.
Overall, voters’ most pressing concern remains how they are personally going to afford the basics, with food and energy standing out as the affordability issues that will determine how many seats Democrats can contest in the midterm elections.
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