Trump's Tariffs Leave Candidates Scrambling as Costs Rise

Diana Walker, a 65-year-old Democrat from Decatur, Georgia, said, “The world is going backwards. We can barely afford anything. Everybody's down. I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican, we're all catching hell.” As voters face rising costs and prepare to decide who controls Congress, Republican candidates in some battleground races are trying to distance themselves from President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Price of the Campaign

About 8 in 10 voters named the economy or cost of living among their top election issues, according to an AP-NORC poll. Nearly 8 in 10 disapproved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, while about three-quarters disapproved of his performance on the economy. The poll found about two-thirds of voters also named health care and the war in Iran as top issues.

A Fox News Poll reported by Newsweek put Trump's approval at 36%, with disapproval at 64%. Among independent voters, his approval was 22%, against 78% disapproval. The poll also found that 74% rated the economy negatively, nearly 60% named cost of living as their top economic concern, and 55% said inflation was not at all under control.

DonnaJean Weber, a 72-year-old Republican from Manistee, Michigan, said she planned to support Republican candidates but was unhappy with the economy. “Everything's going up,” she said, citing the war with Iran and other Trump decisions. “I don't agree with him fully on all of these tariffs, either. It's making this country look bad.”

Georgia recorded 188,667 in-person ballots on the first day of early voting this week, about 40% more than on the first day in 2022. Independent political strategist Omar Ali said worries about federal policies and rising costs could be motivating voters. “So we're feeling that across the entire nation. And so Republicans and Democrats are feeling that,” he said.

Ali also described the Republican turnout strategy. “Most Republicans think that there's no chance whatsoever that Mayor Bottoms will win. And because of that, they're not as motivated,” he said. “And so they are using President Trump in areas that is heavy MAGA base to motivate the rural areas to get out to vote.”

The Ballot Box and Its Limits

Democratic voters showed more enthusiasm about voting than Republicans, more voters preferred Democrats to control Congress, and voters viewed Republicans more negatively, the AP-NORC poll found. About half of registered voters preferred Democratic control of the House or Senate, roughly 4 in 10 preferred Republican control of each chamber, and 15% were undecided.

About half of voters wanted “substantial change,” while roughly 3 in 10 wanted “complete and total upheaval.” Among Republicans, 45% wanted substantial change and 13% wanted upheaval. Krista Kohles, a 70-year-old Republican from near Davey, Nebraska, summed up the frustration: “I'm kind of tired of sending people there and nothing gets done. Nothing's changing.”

Seven in 10 voters in the Fox News Poll said they would vote in the midterm election to send a message to Trump. In a hypothetical House vote, 54% backed the Democratic candidate and 45% the Republican. The November 3 election will decide control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's presidency, along with dozens of governorships and thousands of state offices.

Democrats were preparing a 100-day agenda in case they regained the House. Their proposals included lowering grocery, gas and health care costs, restoring expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits, reversing Republican Medicaid cuts, seeking votes to end Trump's tariffs, and preparing investigations into Trump, his family and his administration. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, assigned lawmakers to prepare the investigations; Republicans held a narrow House majority. All the proposed fixes and probes depend on winning and exercising power within Congress.

The reporting covers campaign activity, polling, and proposed legislative action; it doesn't describe a grassroots mutual-aid effort or community-organized alternative. In Georgia, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff debated Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mike Collins on Tuesday. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appeared alone at an Atlanta Press Club debate Monday after Rick Jackson, her Republican opponent in the governor's race, declined the invitation.

Candidates, Polls, and the Power Play

Vice President JD Vance met supporters Wednesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Trump is scheduled to hold a rally at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Dalton Municipal Airport; Jackson and Collins are expected to attend. Trump also campaigned in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday, backing candidates and emphasizing gun rights, national security and the economy.

In Montana, Trump announced that the Pentagon would establish a new “super range” to test advanced weapons and military technologies. In Arizona, he repeated disputed claims about the 2022 election and warned that Republican control of Congress was at stake. At a rally in Bullhead City, he backed Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and other GOP candidates, criticized Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and called for a victory in honor of Charlie Kirk.

The polls show broad dissatisfaction. But the campaign response remains a contest over which party will control the same institutions. Biggs told the rally, “Vote Republican top to bottom. Let's turn Arizona red.” Trump said, “On election night, Arizona is going to prove that America does not belong to those who hate it. America belongs to those who love, love, love, love — love it.”