Looking Beyond the 2026 Midterms: Slogans Are Not a Strategy

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante

The current buzzword is affordability. “‘Affordability’ mantra helps Democrats turn tide” the New York Times headlined. “Democrats used ‘affordability’ to harness worries about the cost of living and sweep to victory in this November’s [2025] election. And once that happened, references to ‘affordability’ as a stand-alone term skyrocketed,” Lisa Lerer and Jonah Smith wrote on December 20, 2025. Beyond the 2026 midterms, what about long-term planning? If Democrats dominate the 2026 midterms...