We won’t beat around the bush – Donald Trump has skyrocketed the cost of living in America, and MAGA Republicans in the states have failed their constituents and refused to push back on the inevitable harm cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs have now caused for working families. In stark contrast, states with at least one chamber of the legislature under Democratic control have led the fight to lower prices, raise working wages, and protect the critical programs families all across the country rely on each month. 

This isn’t only about combating Trump’s war on working families’ budgets in 2026 – a shift in the balance of power in the states in November is crucial to unseating Republicans rubber-stamping the anti-worker, MAGA agenda for years to come.

Let’s go over the important work state Democrats are doing to address affordability:

• Pennsylvania House Democrats recently passed a bill to raise the minimum wage for the third time in four years. 
• Massachusetts Democrats passed a budget that included investing revenue generated from wealthy households in child care and early education.
• Virginia, Michigan, and Colorado also passed legislation to make child care more affordable for families – and New Mexico Democrats passed the country’s first universal child care legislation and took action to lower the cost of health care by passing funding to make up for lost ACA subsidies.
• Democrats in Illinois passed legislation to protect health care access in their state following federal cuts, and the Hawaii state legislature passed bills to protect food assistance and access to health care.

Democratic majorities have the potential to uplift millions of American families with bold legislation by lowering costs, advancing economic opportunity, and protecting workers from the abuses of the Trump administration and his GOP cronies in the states.

That’s why we released our 2026 Target Map, highlighting our top priorities and opportunities to build and defend Democratic power, weaken Republican rule, and grow our movement across 27 states and 42 legislative chambers across the country – reflecting the needs of over 200 million Americans and their communities. 

As the midterm elections on November 3rd get closer (less than 75 days to go!), the work to elect Democrats up and down the ballot is ramping up by the second – and the DLCC’s midterm strategy is backed by the strong grassroots support of voters across the country. MAGA Republicans in the states are pulling in millions of dollars from their mega-donors, and the blue wave will only happen in November if the DLCC is fully funded to execute our midterm strategy to compete and win. 

Will you join the DLCC and help us spread the word on Democrats’ strong record on making life more affordable for Americans? 

Being on the frontlines against state Republicans in November is a key tenet of the DLCC’s strategy – and we can’t elect the strongest slate of state Democrats in years without your support ahead of Election Day: