Republicans fret about inflation's impact on 2026 midterms
Source: Axios
2 hours ago
Republican operatives and lawmakers are increasingly anxious about how inflation could affect the GOP in the 2026 midterms, and want President Trump to take more aggressive steps to address rising prices.
Why it matters: GOP insiders and lawmakers believe the cost of drugs and consumer items and how the White House deals with Trump's tariffs potentially turbocharging prices and creating shortages will be key to whether the GOP keeps control of Congress next year.
Zoom in: Republicans on Capitol Hill and beyond praise Trump's recent focus on crime, but many are alarmed by internal polls and focus groups showing persistent and increasing concerns about prices.
"We don't want Democrats making campaign ads about $8 Lucky Charms and grandma unable to get prescription drugs because of shortages from the tariffs," one GOP operative involved in drawing up the party's midterm plans told Axios. "Voters care a ton, and Republicans need to talk more about fighting this."
A conservative group aligned with congressional GOP leadership has been distributing polling data to Hill Republicans that shows 25% of voters view inflation as the most important issue facing the country.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/02/republicans-fret-about-inflations-impact-on-2026-midterms
So based on their poll, only 25% consider "inflation" as "the most important issue" (meaning 75% DIDN'T think it "that important" ). Yet we were fed the media narrative of "economics" and it obviously was NOT what the reality was, which we saw in an election where voters thought that getting rid of "illegal aliens" and "wiping out LGBTQ+ people" and "erasing any semblance of contributions from non-white citizens to this country's march to greatness", was MORE IMPORTANT.

Bernardo de La Paz
(58,424 posts)Hence his impending invasion of Chicago.
Lots of magnification of 'rampant crime in the streets' in LA, DC and Chicago. All blue run cities. Nothing done about crime in Louisiana.
ProudMNDemocrat
(20,246 posts)I wonder how much crime will be there in New Orleans and areas around there?
Imagine a feeding frenzy.
ProudMNDemocrat
(20,246 posts)Down to the very last vote to TAKE AWAY the most important things that matter to Americans.....Dignity, livelihoods, security, FREEDOMS and RIGHTS.
Come next February, it will become even more apparent how inflation has caused the collapse of the MAGA movement and the economy as we know it. Winter will be harsh indeed..
thesquanderer
(12,766 posts)I would not assume that 25% ranking it as most important today means that only 25% ranked it as most important last Fall. Back then, people were being bombarded with commercials and right-wing media reports about how terrible inflation was, now that's not happening. Also people's experiences of how much prices had gone up in recent years were fresher, even though the rate had already come down by then. They still felt they were paying too-high prices. The more time goes by, the more people adjust to the new prices and realize they're not coming back down. Here's some reputable polling from then:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/651719/economy-important-issue-2024-presidential-vote.aspx
BumRushDaShow
(160,228 posts)their poll for NOW is showing only "25%" feel it "most important". Yet for some reason, our party position has been that it IS supposed to be "the most important" thing, ignoring the fact that people are STILL not "voting for their pocketbooks" but continue to be hoodwinked to vote based on their primordial tribal sense of belonging to some 'in group' against another group, so they can feel "superior" to someone else.
I.e., you have idiots who have now lost much of their farm help, are watching their crops rot in place, with some even filing bankruptcy, yet these same people are STILL spouting nonsense about "Just give him more time".
And if we can't find away around that, then we are screwed. It's a human nature thing and will never be completely solved, but there should be some alternate ways to get the "disinterested" to accept "E PLURIBUS UNUM" (Out of many, one), rather than conceding to the RW loons, and throwing the base under the bus.
ananda
(33,172 posts)but their hate and white supremacy rules over their
votes...
And whether it will get bad enough to change that
I don't know.
Gum Logger
(223 posts)ananda
(33,172 posts)We are in its iron grip, even after mighty efforts
to loosen it.
progree
(12,316 posts)(not just inflation, though that was important)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143390474#post22
BumRushDaShow
(160,228 posts)are the same ones who ridicule the "messaging" about the economy as "data wonk stuff".
There is nary a peep about the price of beef at exorbitant prices per pound and although the prices of eggs are down some, they are still NOWHERE near what they were before fall of 2024. The media tepidly reports some of this but then applauds the consumers for "powering through it".
hildegaard28
(780 posts)Were serious about those concerns, they would impeach and remove the guy causing the high prices. They still want to support the orange idiot, but cant seem to connect the dots that he is the one responsible for the tariffs. How stupid can they be?
angryxyouth
(297 posts)They dont have to wait for Trump.
sakabatou
(45,300 posts)Gum Logger
(223 posts)MadameButterfly
(3,547 posts)Haven't they been betting with their votes that Trump will have complete control by the mid-terms? They knew their votes would be unpopular. They didn't really think tarriffs would work, did they?
It would be much easier for Trump to take over elections than to lower prices at this point, even if he gets rid of tarriffs. Are they OK with that? Are any of them worried about the unpopularity of the end of democracy? Would they trade democracy for re-election to an office where they have no free will and will get death threats if they defy the master?
These guys need some chess lessons or something.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(128,722 posts)Their Lard and Savior Idiot in Chief is likely to make it worse over the next year especially if he gets his way with the Federal Reserve.
Martin68
(26,468 posts)Just about as effective as "thoughts and prayers."
BobTheSubgenius
(12,091 posts)Virtually everything else is secondary to the massive pile of stench that they have become.