Republican campaigns and aligned groups have outspent Democrats by $400 million so far this election cycle, as both parties seek votes from families facing high costs. AdImpact, a political advertising tracking firm, reported the gap while Democrats campaign on affordability ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Who pays for the policy choices
Democratic candidates have focused on the cost pressures facing families, but questions remain about how their proposals would lower prices and how quickly they could act if they gain power in Washington. Their agendas cover housing costs, wages, benefits, health care, protections for workers affected by artificial intelligence, universal child care, homebuilding, groceries and gasoline.
Roy Cooper, the Democratic Senate nominee in North Carolina, is promoting his “Make Stuff Cost Less” plan. Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has a “New American Dream” agenda and is scheduled to appear at a CNN & Jubilee Town Hall on Wednesday. Sen. Ruben Gallego has proposed a New Deal-style public service jobs program, while Sen. Chuck Schumer could revive a policy blueprint he introduced in January, when Republicans controlled the Senate.
In a CNN/SSRS poll in September, Democrats held a 7-point lead as the party Americans viewed as closest to their views on the economy. Still, 35% thought Democrats would have a mainly positive effect on the cost of living, and 27% said the party would have that effect on their personal financial situation.
At a debate this month, Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, tied energy costs to the war with Iran. “If we don't stop this war, if we don't stop it now, we are going to continue to watch as the Iranian regime chokeholds the Strait of Hormuz, making our energy prices higher. And you are going to pay for it both at the gas tank and at the grocery store,” he said.
Cooper told voters in July, “we need to roll back these chaotic tariffs, and Congress needs to take back its constitutional authority on that — because that's ending up costing everyday people and small businesses.”
Money and access
Elon Musk has put at least $276 million into Republican midterm efforts since July, CNN reported. “The overwhelming money advantage that Republicans have, and that Elon Musk is turbocharging for them, doesn't seem to be altering the playing field,” David Chalian said.
Senate Majority PAC, the leading outside group supporting Democratic Senate candidates and incumbents, said it had resources to compete in nine battleground states. Communications director Lauren French said the group had posted record fundraising over the past three months, but “of course, more recess resources would be helpful.”
“We are being outspent by the Republicans. That's just a fact,” French said. She added that Republicans had “monopoly money to play with,” while Democrats were working with “real resources.” The group, she said, was making “belt-tightening decisions” and reviewing races to ensure it had enough resources to win a majority without leaving candidates shortchanged.
A veteran Democratic Senate operative, who requested anonymity, said, “The hard reality is there isn't enough funding to protect the toss-up states and also heavily invest in the red-leaning states where we're playing offense.” A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee memo shared with donors said Republicans “are now flooding districts across our battlefield with MAGA Inc. and Trump super PAC money that we simply cannot match.” The memo asked for another $17 million by Oct. 22 to “close the sale” in races it called “winnable.”
What the government can—and may not—do
In June, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the party's first bill if it won the majority, HR.1, would focus on affordability. “It will be hyper-focused on driving down the high cost of living and of course fixing our broken health care system as a part of that,” he said.
A new Congress could try to halt supplemental spending for military operations in Iran, restrict the use of broader military funds or overturn remaining tariffs. President Donald Trump could veto legislation, and overturning tariffs could require a veto-proof two-thirds Senate majority. A narrow Senate majority could also leave Republicans able to block bills unless Democrats secured 60 votes. Reconciliation bills could pass without overcoming a filibuster, but the president retains veto power.
The source cited the failure of a Democratic House to stop the Iraq war after the party's 2006 midterm victory as a warning. A dispute with Trump over the war's legality could lead to a constitutional impasse rather than end the conflict.
Republican spending included money from Senate Leadership Fund, the President Donald Trump-allied MAGA Inc. and a super PAC bankrolled by Musk. Senate Leadership Fund communications director Chris Gustafson said the group had “amassed a financial advantage that neither party has had before.”