Despite making a stand during a government shutdown over expiring health care subsidies—measures that could drastically raise insurance costs for millions—Democrats continue to trail Republicans in public opinion on economic issues. Polls consistently show voters trust the GOP more on matters of inflation and cost of living, creating a persistent challenge for the party seeking to regain political ground.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who is running for reelection amid federal bribery charges, acknowledged the uphill battle. “Are we going to get all the working class back? Probably not,” he said. “But I see an opening here. … We need to focus and repeat over and over that we Democrats are interested in bringing costs down.”
The party’s broader goal, Cuellar added, is to prove it remains a credible alternative to Republican leadership.
This disconnect—where Democrats take action on affordability yet fail to win public credit—has persisted for months. Even as dissatisfaction grows with former President Donald Trump and his administration’s economic management, many voters remain unconvinced that Democrats offer a better path.
Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), defending a competitive Long Island district, described the shutdown stance as “an important step” toward demonstrating commitment to household budgets. “It’s crucial to prevent premiums from rising exponentially,” she said. “But this must be part of a larger conversation showing we understand people’s financial struggles and have a clear strategy.”
The Democratic platform on economic relief is still evolving. Candidates are tailoring messages from personal hardship narratives to critiques of systemic inequality and corporate influence. At the federal level, the party is using its limited leverage to pressure Republicans into extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire by year-end—a move aimed at scoring a tangible win on a key voter concern.
There are signs of shifting sentiment. Trump’s approval rating on economic performance has declined since the beginning of his second term, according to aggregated polling data. Inflation remains a top concern, and a recent CBS/YouGov survey found that 75% of adults believe Trump is not doing enough to reduce prices—despite his campaign promises. Labor statistics also indicate a cooling job market.
Yet, Republicans maintain a consistent edge in economic confidence metrics. Liam Kerr, co-founder of the centrist group WelcomePAC, cautioned that a single policy fight, even on health care, won’t erase deep-seated perceptions. “You can’t just do it one time and all is forgotten,” Kerr said. “Playing against type requires even more effort.”
Still, several Democratic congressional candidates express optimism. They view the shutdown maneuver as one element of a wider strategy that includes opposing tariffs that inflate consumer prices and challenging utility providers over rising energy bills.
The party is also highlighting working-class candidates—such as a firefighter in Pennsylvania and a waitress in Wisconsin—to signal alignment with blue-collar voters who have increasingly supported Trump.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has backed these efforts with a digital and billboard campaign costing tens of thousands of dollars, aimed at alerting the public to looming premium hikes.
However, prolonged shutdowns carry political risks. The Trump administration began dismissing federal employees, increasing pressure on both parties to resolve the impasse. Some surveys suggest a majority of voters believe Democrats should concede and reopen the government—the Harvard/Harris poll showed nearly two-thirds favoring such a move, while Navigator found just over half in agreement.
Nonetheless, Democratic leaders remain resolute.
“We have to give people a reason to fight, and we have to get back to catering to the many over the few,” said Cherlynn Stevenson, a Kentucky state representative running in an open congressional district. “This can be a big turning point for our party.”
— news from Politico
— News Original —
Shutdown polls show Democrats’ economic messaging still falling flat
That dichotomy underscores an electoral hurdle for the party locked out of power: Even as Democrats hold the line over expiring health care subsidies that could send millions of Americans’ insurance prices soaring, voters still favor Republicans on the economy and cost of living. n n“Are we going to get all the working class back? Probably not,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who is seeking reelection in a redrawn Texas district while facing federal bribery charges. “[But] I see an opening here. … And we need to jump on that and just really focus and repeat over and over and over that we Democrats are interested in bringing costs down.” n nThe next challenge for his party, he added: “Make sure people understand we are a viable alternative.” n nThe shutdown-polling paradox has shown up in surveys for months, as Democrats struggle to move voters who are souring on President Donald Trump and his party’s handling of the economy and inflation into their corner. And it underscores the uphill battle Democrats face in wresting power from Republicans, even as they narrow their scattered messaging to affordability. n nFrontliner Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) called her party’s shutdown stance “an important step” toward convincing voters Democrats can tackle rising costs. n n“And it’s a crucial step to take right now … to make sure that people don’t see their premiums go up exponentially,” said Gillen, who is defending the Long Island swing seat she flipped last year. “But then it needs to be part of a broader discussion to show that we are on the side of the American people and we care about the economic pain they’re feeling and we have a concrete plan.” n nThe party is still hashing out the particulars of that plan, which depending on the candidate ranges from pitching a hardscrabble background to railing against a rigged economy and vilifying the billionaires that benefit from it. n nRight now, Democrats are trying to leverage their minimal power to force Republicans to stop Affordable Care Act subsidies from expiring at the end of the year, attempting to squeeze out a policy win on a top cost-of-living issue as they scramble to regain working-class voters. n nThe political winds have been shifting in Democrats’ favor on the economy. Trump’s net approval rating on the subject has nosedived since the start of his second term, polling averages show. Voters routinely rank inflation as one of their top issues, but disapprove of his handling of it. The latest CBS/YouGov poll showed three-quarters of adults don’t think Trump is doing enough to lower prices — one of his 2024 campaign trail pledges. Labor Department statistics show the job market is slowing. n nDespite signs of economic distress, Republicans consistently enjoy a polling advantage on the economy. And Liam Kerr, who co-founded the centrist WelcomePAC, warned that Democrats won’t be able to erase it through a single stand on health care costs. n n“You can’t just do it one time and all is forgotten,” Kerr said. “Playing against type requires even more effort.” n nNevertheless, Democrats remain confident they can reverse their heavy losses in 2024 by drilling down on voters’ cost-of-living concerns, according to interviews with half a dozen congressional candidates. n nThey cast their party’s shutdown play as part of a broader strategy that ranges from hammering Republicans over tariffs that could drive up prices for consumers and for businesses, to battling utility companies over rising bills. And they believe the slate of working-class candidates the party is putting up for House and Senate seats, from a firefighter in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley to a waitress in western Wisconsin, can convince voters that Democrats care about blue-collar Americans who have turned toward Trump in recent years. n nThey’re getting backup from Democrats’ national campaign arm, which on Friday launched a five-figure digital-and-billboard ad campaign and organizing effort to alert voters to the pending increase in their premiums. n nStill, shutdowns carry risks for both parties, especially the longer they drag on. The Trump administration on Friday began firing federal workers, which could increase pressure on both sides to bring their standoff to an end. And some polls already show voters think Democrats should cave and reopen the government; a sentiment expressed by nearly two-thirds of voters in the Harvard/Harris survey and just over half of respondents to the Navigator poll. n nBut Democrats are dug in. n n“We have to give people a reason to fight, and we have to get back to catering to the many over the few,” Cherlynn Stevenson, a state representative running for the Democratic nomination in Kentucky’s open 6th District, said. “This can be a big turning point for our party.”