Republican campaigns and aligned groups have outspent their Democratic counterparts by $400 million so far this election cycle, according to AdImpact. Democrats are making affordability a central message ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with proposals on housing, wages, health care, child care, groceries and gasoline. Questions remain about how quickly they could act if they gain power in Washington.
Affordability at the Center
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. Sen. Chuck Schumer could revive a detailed 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. But only 35% thought the party would have a mainly positive effect on the cost of living, and 27% said the same about their personal financial situation.
At a debate this month, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan linked energy prices to the war with Iran. He said: “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.” Cooper told voters in July that “we need to roll back these chaotic tariffs, and Congress needs to take back its constitutional authority on that.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in June that the party’s first bill if it won the majority, HR.1, would focus on affordability and health care. Democrats would need to unite a caucus that spans democratic socialists, progressives and moderates. A narrow Senate majority could leave Republicans able to block legislation unless Democrats secured 60 votes. Reconciliation bills can pass without overcoming a filibuster, but a president still holds veto power.
Spending and the Senate Map
CNN reported that Elon Musk has put at least $276 million into Republican midterm efforts since July. “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.
Fox News reported that Democrats see more red states and congressional districts as competitive. Senate races in Alaska, Iowa, Ohio and Texas earned toss-up ratings in its Power Rankings. The rankings shifted South Carolina from Solid to Likely Republican and rated Kansas Lean Republican.
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 added, “of course, more recess resources would be helpful.” She said Democrats were being outspent and called Republican campaign spending in many states “monopoly money,” while saying her group was “working with real resources.”
A fundraising appeal by Rep. Chris Pappas, the Democratic Senate nominee in New Hampshire, said a pro-Trump PAC had reserved $10 million in advertising in the state the previous month. It said Democrats were being outspent 3-to-1. American Bridge PAC had recently put more than $20 million into South Carolina and Kansas, as well as competitive races in Florida and Mississippi.
Limits on Governing and Campaign Funds
A Democratic Senate operative said there wasn't enough funding to protect toss-up states and also invest heavily in red-leaning states where Democrats were campaigning. A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee memo to donors said Republicans were “flooding districts across our battlefield with MAGA Inc. and Trump super PAC money that we simply cannot match.” It asked for another $17 million by Oct. 22 for races it called “winnable.”
Republican spending included Senate Leadership Fund, 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.” Republican strategist Jesse Hunt said outside groups would have played a decisive role in a strong Republican election night.
If Democrats gain seats, efforts to halt supplemental spending for military operations in Iran, restrict military funds or overturn remaining tariffs would face obstacles. President Donald Trump could veto legislation, and overturning tariffs could require a veto-proof two-thirds Senate majority. The article also cited the failure of a Democratic House to stop the Iraq war after the party's 2006 midterm victory. Investigations of the Trump White House could complicate cooperation on housing affordability, prescription drug prices, child tax credits and infrastructure.