Democrats home in on affordability, healthcare, and combating corruption for midterm messaging

Democrats have their sights set on two midterm messaging strategies in hopes of regaining partial control of Washington — affordability and corruption.“Messaging and our legislative priorities should be the same,” said Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA). “Help families pay bills, address the affordability crisis, healthcare, and the corruption, but it needs to be in that order.”Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) told the Washington Examiner that “Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one,” but he and “Republicans in Congress have failed miserably.” “For me it’s rolling back things that are costing families thousands of dollars,” he added. “The war in Iran is costing families thousands of dollars, illegal tariffs are costing families thousands of dollars, rolling back the repeal of the healthcare tax credit, making sure we are creating pathways to work, there are lots of easy wins early on Democrats will deliver.”Throughout a series of interviews with the Washington Examiner, House Democrats pointed to similar legislative priorities with less than two months until the 2026 elections. Although they didn’t outline specific legislation, much of the agenda focuses on restoring Obamacare tax credits, reining in the White House’s authority to impose tariffs, cutting off funding for the Iran war, and reversing President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. Unless Democrats take veto-proof majorities in both chambers, much of the agenda faces an uphill climb with Trump still commander in chief until January 2029. That’s why Democrats are also playing up one of the few powers they could wield without Trump’s cooperation: congressional oversight backed by subpoena power.“I have said time and again this is the most corrupt administration in the history of the country, the president making billions of dollars on crypto and other business directly tied to his power,” Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) told the Washington Examiner.“We’re going to end the corruption, stand up to it, or the corruption will be the end of us,” Levin continued.House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA) is already preparing a series of investigations into Trump and his family if Democrats win the majority.Democrats are likely to focus on the Trump family’s relationship with foreign governments and the crypto industry. Investigations are also likely to center on the Justice Department’s handling of the release of the Epstein files, and immigration enforcement tactics.While Democrats turn to affordability, Republicans have also been hammering the same message. GOP lawmakers point to the big, beautiful bill that extended Trump’s tax cuts, as well as policies like no taxes on tips.Democrats are on offense this cycle with historical trends on their side, but redistricting efforts across the country have reduced the number of competitive districts for each party.While Democrats have tried to nail down their midterm message, the party has faced ideological divisions between its establishment and socialist wings. Some of the insurgent socialists and progressives have also made it more difficult for Democrats to outline a unified message.‘GLUE-ZYN-KAMP’: VULNERABLE DEMOCRAT LEANS INTO ZYN WITH NEW CAMPAIGN MERCHThat was on display in August when Abdul el Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary brought to the forefront the influence of Hasan Piker, a socialist Twitch streamer. Piker campaigned for el Sayed despite his long record of controversial comments, including his public statement that America “deserved 9/11.”Piker’s influence over Democrats has become a central part of the GOP’s strategy to create a contrast between themselves and Democrats this cycle.