RELEASE: State Democrats Work to Provide Relief as Trump & GOP Policies Raise Costs

State Democrats are taking action to lower costs for everyday Americans, from tackling housing costs to making child care more affordable and lowering energy prices

WASHINGTON — As Republicans’ ambivalence around the affordability crisis is on full display – with Trump recently admitting “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation” – state Democrats are working overtime to provide relief. State Democrats have delivered tangible results during legislative sessions this year, including lowering housing and health care costs, reducing utility bills, expanding access to affordable child care, and raising the minimum wage. As gas prices soar and access to health care and food benefits are stripped under Republican policies, Democrats are prioritizing much-needed economic relief.

Democrats in state legislatures have advanced policies to:

• Reduce housing costs in Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota
• Lower energy costs in Maryland, Maine, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
• Establish universal child care in New Mexico, and make child care more affordable for families in Virginia, Michigan, Colorado, and Maine
• Improve access to health care and lower costs in Oregon, Virginia, Illinois, and New Mexico
• Raise the minimum wage to $15/hr in Virginia

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:

“The split screen couldn’t be starker in who’s fighting for working families and taking action to address soaring costs. While Trump admits he doesn’t care about Americans’ financial situations, state Democrats have made lowering costs their number one priority in legislative sessions. Voters are fed up with Republicans who’ve left families behind and hiked prices on essentials, and they’re fired up to send Republicans packing this November. State Democrats have been clinching upset wins across the country since Trump took office, and the DLCC isn’t taking our foot off the gas as we work to flip 500 seats across the country and elect champions who will lower costs.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states.