The affordability election that teaches Democrats nothing
If Democrats do as well tonight as polls suggest, everyone knows the two reasons why: affordability and President Donald Trump.
Democrats appear poised to inherit Republicans' trust issues on affordability issues following the recent midterms. Half of Americans consistently rank the cost of living as one of their top three concerns, and a majority of Democratic voters cite Trump's performance over the candidates themselves as their primary motivating factor.
While Democrats have gained an advantage on affordability, they face challenges in governing due to conflicting demands from their coalition. Thirty-nine percent of Democratic voters would prioritize sacrificing progress on affordability to help their chances in the 2028 election. The electorate's approach to the midterms appears to be a referendum on Trump, meaning a Democratic victory may not provide clear guidance on future actions.
Democrats' preference for principle over pragmatism could deepen the progressive-moderate divide, posing questions on how hard to fight against Trump's agenda once control is achieved.
Written by urgent.news from POLITICO's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
