Politics, Parties, Candidates
Here's a look at documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties
Featured Stories
Mich. Democratic Party: Mike Rogers One of the Most Out-of-Touch GOP Candidates in the Nation
LANSING, Michigan, April 3 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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Mike Rogers One of the Most Out-of-Touch GOP Candidates in the Nation
Multi-millionaire Florida resident Mike Rogers has a starring role in a new report about "several Republican Senate candidates [who] have downplayed rising costs" while defending Trump's disastrous economic policies.
In a supercut of the most out-of-touch GOP Senate candidates across the country, MS NOW prominently features audio of Rogers dismissing Michiganders' concerns about skyrocketing gas prices, saying "We're gonna
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 3 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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Mike Rogers One of the Most Out-of-Touch GOP Candidates in the Nation
Multi-millionaire Florida resident Mike Rogers has a starring role in a new report about "several Republican Senate candidates [who] have downplayed rising costs" while defending Trump's disastrous economic policies.
In a supercut of the most out-of-touch GOP Senate candidates across the country, MS NOW prominently features audio of Rogers dismissing Michiganders' concerns about skyrocketing gas prices, saying "We're gonnabe fine, we got plenty of oil."
Watch Mike Rogers' cameo here (https://x.com/RiegerReport/status/2039410383526531241?s=20) and read more below:
MS NOW (https://www.ms.now/news/starbucks-gop-senate-candidates-dismissing-affordability-concerns): 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senate candidates keep dismissing affordability concerns
* Across key Senate races this cycle, several Republican Senate candidates have downplayed rising costs and defended the president's economic policies.
* Democrats are already moving to weaponize those comments, arguing they underscore a broader disconnect between GOP candidates and economic anxieties.
* Republicans, for their part, have been eager to align themselves with Trump's economic message.
* At a campaign stop in March -- as the Iran war drove gas prices higher -- Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers shrugged off concerns about rising fuel costs.
* "We're gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil," he said, according to a clip obtained by Punchbowl News.
* "We're going to pump our oil right here in America, and we got plenty," he added.
* Rogers has also repeatedly defended the president's tariffs, even as economists link those policies with increasing consumer prices.
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/new-mike-rogers-one-of-the-most-out-of-touch-gop-candidates-in-the-nation/
Mich. Democratic Party: Duggan-Backed Medicaid Cuts Causing Michiganders To Lose Health Care
LANSING, Michigan, April 3 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Duggan-Backed Medicaid Cuts Causing Michiganders To Lose Health Care
Medicaid cuts passed by Donald Trump and DC Republicans -- and backed by MAGA-funded Mike Duggan, who said that "these Medicaid cuts are not as bad as they look" -- are forcing between 171,000 and 355,000 Michiganders to now lose their health care, according to a new report.
In October, when asked by a local hospital leader about the impacts that Medicaid cuts will have on Michiganders, Duggan dismissed concerns
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 3 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Duggan-Backed Medicaid Cuts Causing Michiganders To Lose Health Care
Medicaid cuts passed by Donald Trump and DC Republicans -- and backed by MAGA-funded Mike Duggan, who said that "these Medicaid cuts are not as bad as they look" -- are forcing between 171,000 and 355,000 Michiganders to now lose their health care, according to a new report.
In October, when asked by a local hospital leader about the impacts that Medicaid cuts will have on Michiganders, Duggan dismissed concernsand downplayed the impacts. It came after Duggan's campaign deflected questions on if he supports Trump's toxic tax law and The Detroit Metro Times "couldn't find an instance in which Duggan spoke out against the Medicaid cuts."
As Duggan backs the Medicaid cuts, each of the Republican candidates for governor have also supported them, including John James, who voted for Trump's tax law and has kept the door open to ending Medicaid expansion entirely, and Perry Johnson, who praised the Medicaid-cutting tax law and called it "a win for America and a big win for Michigan."
NBC News reported this week that "more than 400 hospitals across the United States are at high risk of closing or cutting services because of the Medicaid cuts."
"Michiganders are losing their health care and all Mike Duggan will say is that 'these Medicaid cuts are not as bad as they look,'" said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. "Even as hospitals close and families lose their health care, Duggan and the Republican candidates for governor won't stand up to Donald Trump and won't fight back against these disastrous cuts. It's clear that Mike Duggan can't be trusted and will always put billionaires and special interests first, not working families."
Read more below on the impacts of the Duggan-backed Medicaid cuts in Michigan.
MLive (https://www.mlive.com/news/2026/03/how-many-michiganders-will-lose-medicaid-by-2028.html): How many Michiganders will lose Medicaid by 2028?
* Researchers say at least 171,000 Michiganders will lose Medicaid coverage in 2028 as a result of the Trump Administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
* State and health industry leaders have said the cuts to Medicaid will result in hospitals closing their doors, cutting staff and/or reducing available services to make up for losses in government funding.
* Residents with private and employer-provided health insurance are likely to see increased costs as hospitals seek to recoup funding. Longer emergency room wait times may also hit communities already struggling with access challenges, industry experts said shortly after the bill signing.
Michigan Public (https://www.michiganpublic.org/health/2026-03-30/fewer-michiganders-will-be-covered-by-medicaid-in-2028-report-says): Fewer Michiganders will be covered by Medicaid in 2028, report says
* Between 171,000 and 355,000 Michiganders are projected to lose Medicaid coverage under new work requirements and more frequent eligibility determinations established in the Trump Administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
* That's according to a research report published by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
* Individuals who are self-employed, have health conditions, or are 50 to 64 years old are more at risk of losing Medicaid coverage under the new policies, the Urban Institute said, and losing coverage can lead to worse health, financial burdens, barriers to employment, and delays or an inability to receive essential care.
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/duggan-backed-medicaid-cuts-causing-michiganders-to-lose-health-care/
Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans'
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans'right to vote by mail.
Trump's latest executive order is the newest attempt by Republicans to interfere in free and fair elections. The order would unilaterally create a federal list of voters the Trump administration deems eligible to receive a mail-in ballot -- a clear violation of the Constitution, which gives states and Congress the power to regulate federal elections and voter rolls, not the President.
This attack on vote-by-mail is an affront to Americans' constitutional rights, and disproportionately impacts working families, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and members of the military who rely on mail voting to make their voices heard in our elections.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, DGA Chair Andy Beshear, and DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"The American people are fed up with Republicans' price-spiking, health care-gutting agenda and are ready to vote them out. That's why Donald Trump is desperately trying to rig our elections by making it harder to vote for seniors, Americans with disabilities, members of the military, rural communities, and other working families who rely on vote-by-mail. This move is blatantly unconstitutional, and we will fight against it. We are taking action to challenge Trump's executive order to protect the right to vote and ensure every eligible American can make their voice heard at the ballot box."
To view the Democratic committees' full brief, click here (https://www.dscc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2026-04-01-Complaint-2.pdf).
Key Points:
* Since losing the 2020 election, Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to undermine vote-by-mail systems in an effort to change the rules for his own political benefit and help Republicans win. After failing to push this anti-voter agenda through Congress, Trump issued this executive order to accomplish the same goal: making it harder for eligible Americans to vote by mail and easier to disenfranchise lawful voters.
* Trump has no lawful authority to do this. The President's power to issue executive orders "must stem either from an act of Congress or from the Constitution itself," and the Constitution gives Congress and the states -- not the President -- the authority to regulate federal elections.
* Trump's executive order unlawfully attempts to take vote-by-mail eligibility away from the states and hand it over to federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service.
* There is no basis in federal statute or the Constitution for the executive branch to decide which Americans are eligible to vote by mail.
* The executive order directs the creation of an unprecedented federal list of citizens deemed eligible to receive a mail ballot. Creating such a list would violate federal law that protects the privacy rights of voters and would inevitably disenfranchise eligible voters who are wrongly excluded.
* The data sources Trump's order relies on to determine eligibility are deeply flawed, unreliable, and not designed to serve as a national voter eligibility database due to inaccuracies, delays, and gaps. Additionally, any attempt to compile a national eligibility list would also create serious problems for eligible voters, including voters who move shortly before an election and naturalized citizens whose records may not be updated in time.
* Trump's claims of a crisis of non-citizen voting are a lie. There is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, and states have long administered vote-by-mail systems safely, securely, and effectively.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/leaders-schumer-jeffries-dscc-dccc-dga-dnc-file-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-illegal-executive-order-attacking-vote-by-mail/
Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans' right
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, DGA, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans' rightto vote by mail.
Trump's latest executive order is the newest attempt by Republicans to interfere in free and fair elections. The order would unilaterally create a federal list of voters the Trump administration deems eligible to receive a mail-in ballot -- a clear violation of the Constitution, which gives states and Congress the power to regulate federal elections and voter rolls, not the President.
This attack on vote-by-mail is an affront to Americans' constitutional rights, and disproportionately impacts working families, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and members of the military who rely on mail voting to make their voices heard in our elections.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, DGA Chair Andy Beshear, and DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"The American people are fed up with Republicans' price-spiking, health care-gutting agenda and are ready to vote them out. That's why Donald Trump is desperately trying to rig our elections by making it harder to vote for seniors, Americans with disabilities, members of the military, rural communities, and other working families who rely on vote-by-mail. This move is blatantly unconstitutional, and we will fight against it. We are taking action to challenge Trump's executive order to protect the right to vote and ensure every eligible American can make their voice heard at the ballot box."
To view the Democratic committees' full brief, click here (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2026-04-01-Complaint-2.pdf).
Key Points:
* Since losing the 2020 election, Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to undermine vote-by-mail systems in an effort to change the rules for his own political benefit and help Republicans win. After failing to push this anti-voter agenda through Congress, Trump issued this executive order to accomplish the same goal: making it harder for eligible Americans to vote by mail and easier to disenfranchise lawful voters.
* Trump has no lawful authority to do this. The President's power to issue executive orders "must stem either from an act of Congress or from the Constitution itself," and the Constitution gives Congress and the states -- not the President -- the authority to regulate federal elections.
* Trump's executive order unlawfully attempts to take vote-by-mail eligibility away from the states and hand it over to federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service.
* There is no basis in federal statute or the Constitution for the executive branch to decide which Americans are eligible to vote by mail.
* The executive order directs the creation of an unprecedented federal list of citizens deemed eligible to receive a mail ballot. Creating such a list would violate federal law that protects the privacy rights of voters and would inevitably disenfranchise eligible voters who are wrongly excluded.
* The data sources Trump's order relies on to determine eligibility are deeply flawed, unreliable, and not designed to serve as a national voter eligibility database due to inaccuracies, delays, and gaps. Additionally, any attempt to compile a national eligibility list would also create serious problems for eligible voters, including voters who move shortly before an election and naturalized citizens whose records may not be updated in time.
* Trump's claims of a crisis of non-citizen voting are a lie. There is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, and states have long administered vote-by-mail systems safely, securely, and effectively.
* * *
Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/leaders-schumer-jeffries-dscc-dccc-dga-dnc-file-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-illegal-executive-order-attacking-vote-by-mail/
Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DGA, DSCC, DCCC, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news on April 2, 2026:
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Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DGA, DSCC, DCCC, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans' right to vote
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news on April 2, 2026:
* * *
Leaders Schumer, Jeffries, DGA, DSCC, DCCC, DNC File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Illegal Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans' right to voteby mail.
Trump's latest executive order is the newest attempt by Republicans to interfere in free and fair elections. The order would unilaterally create a federal list of voters the Trump administration deems eligible to receive a mail-in ballot -- a clear violation of the Constitution, which gives states and Congress the power to regulate federal elections and voter rolls, not the President.
This attack on vote-by-mail is an affront to Americans' constitutional rights, and disproportionately impacts working families, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and members of the military who rely on mail voting to make their voices heard in our elections.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DGA Chair Andy Beshear, DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, and DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"The American people are fed up with Republicans' price-spiking, health care-gutting agenda and are ready to vote them out. That's why Donald Trump is desperately trying to rig our elections by making it harder to vote for seniors, Americans with disabilities, members of the military, rural communities, and other working families who rely on vote-by-mail. This move is blatantly unconstitutional, and we will fight against it. We are taking action to challenge Trump's executive order to protect the right to vote and ensure every eligible American can make their voice heard at the ballot box."
To view the Democratic committees' full brief, click here (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1-2026-04-01-Complaint-2.pdf).
Key Points:
* Since losing the 2020 election, Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to undermine vote-by-mail systems in an effort to change the rules for his own political benefit and help Republicans win. After failing to push this anti-voter agenda through Congress, Trump issued this executive order to accomplish the same goal: making it harder for eligible Americans to vote by mail and easier to disenfranchise lawful voters.
* Trump has no lawful authority to do this. The President's power to issue executive orders "must stem either from an act of Congress or from the Constitution itself," and the Constitution gives Congress and the states -- not the President -- the authority to regulate federal elections.
* Trump's executive order unlawfully attempts to take vote-by-mail eligibility away from the states and hand it over to federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service.
* There is no basis in federal statute or the Constitution for the executive branch to decide which Americans are eligible to vote by mail.
* The executive order directs the creation of an unprecedented federal list of citizens deemed eligible to receive a mail ballot. Creating such a list would violate federal law that protects the privacy rights of voters and would inevitably disenfranchise eligible voters who are wrongly excluded.
* The data sources Trump's order relies on to determine eligibility are deeply flawed, unreliable, and not designed to serve as a national voter eligibility database due to inaccuracies, delays, and gaps. Additionally, any attempt to compile a national eligibility list would also create serious problems for eligible voters, including voters who move shortly before an election and naturalized citizens whose records may not be updated in time.
* Trump's claims of a crisis of non-citizen voting are a lie. There is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, and states have long administered vote-by-mail systems safely, securely, and effectively.
* * *
Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/leaders-schumer-jeffries-dga-dscc-dccc-dnc-file-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-illegal-executive-order-attacking-vote-by-mail/
ICYMI: 'Take One Less Trip to Starbucks' - GOP Senate Candidates Keep Dismissing Affordability Concerns [MS NOW]
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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ICYMI: 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senate candidates keep dismissing affordability concerns [MS NOW]
In case you missed it, new reporting from MS NOW is highlighting the deeply "out-of-touch" comments Republican Senate candidates continue to make, "downplaying rising costs" and "defending the president's economic policies" that have made everything cost more. GOP candidates are showing a "stunning contempt for Americans who are struggling to get by" as they
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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ICYMI: 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senate candidates keep dismissing affordability concerns [MS NOW]
In case you missed it, new reporting from MS NOW is highlighting the deeply "out-of-touch" comments Republican Senate candidates continue to make, "downplaying rising costs" and "defending the president's economic policies" that have made everything cost more. GOP candidates are showing a "stunning contempt for Americans who are struggling to get by" as theycontinue to "deny economic reality" and "blame families," all while touting that they still "feel pretty good about the economy."
From asking voters to "cut back on coffee" and "be patriots" about rising prices or telling hardworking Americans to "earn more," these Republican Senate candidates couldn't be more out of touch.
See for yourself:
MS NOW: GOP Senate Candidates Dismissing Affordability Concerns Supercut (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJrwtzR9lJo)
Minnesota GOP Senate Candidate MICHELE TAFOYA: "I think right now, at least, just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip. Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again. Let's just try to be patriots about this."
Ohio GOP Senate Candidate JON HUSTED: "People living in poverty are just not very, they're not very, um, experienced at navigating the real world. You literally have to teach people how to budget."
Mississippi GOP Senate Candidate CINDY HYDE-SMITH: "You know, you have so many proteins to choose from, and all commodities go through peaks and valleys...."
North Carolina GOP Senate Candidate MICHAEL WHATLEY: "We're certainly not ready to hang up a Mission Accomplished sign, but hundreds of thousands of jobs in the private sector are being created. Real wages are up year-over-year. The inflation is way down, and the GDP is growing. So, our economy is starting to move again."
Michigan GOP Senate Candidate MIKE ROGERS: "... We're going to be fine. We got plenty of oil."
North Carolina GOP Senate Candidate MICHAEL WHATLEY: "Take a look at what's happening with the economy. President Trump campaigned on bringing down gasoline prices, grocery prices, and housing prices. How are we doing?"
MS NOW: 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senate candidates keep dismissing affordability concerns (https://www.ms.now/news/starbucks-gop-senate-candidates-dismissing-affordability-concerns)
* As gas prices surged in the early weeks of the U.S. war with Iran, a Republican Senate candidate in Minnesota had a suggestion for voters struggling at the pump: cut back on the coffee.
* "Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further," Michele Tafoya said on a radio show recently, advising listeners to be "patriots" and keep a "stiff upper lip" until fuel prices come back down.
* That comment, from the former NFL sideline reporter-turned-Senate-candidate, comes as public perceptions of the U.S. economy are spiraling -- a negative sentiment compounded by President Donald Trump's decision to launch a war with Iran and drive gas prices up to $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022.
* Tafoya is hardly alone.
* Across key Senate races this cycle, several Republican Senate candidates have downplayed rising costs and defended the president's economic policies.
* Democrats are already moving to weaponize those comments, arguing they underscore a broader disconnect between GOP candidates and economic anxieties.
* In a statement to MS NOW, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the "out-of-touch comments" by GOP Senate hopefuls "show a stunning contempt for Americans who are struggling to get by."
* "Everything costs too much, but instead of taking action to lower prices, Republicans are dismissing voters' concerns, denying economic reality, and blaming families," Gillibrand said. "In November, voters will hold Republicans accountable for mocking their concerns while making life more expensive."
* Republicans, for their part, have been eager to align themselves with Trump's economic message.
* At a campaign stop in March -- as the Iran war drove gas prices higher -- Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers shrugged off concerns about rising fuel costs.
* "We're gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil," he said, according to a clip obtained by Punchbowl News.
* Rogers has also repeatedly defended the president's tariffs, even as economists link those policies with increasing consumer prices. In September, Rogers said that while he does not like prices going up, "I'd rather have good manufacturing jobs here," according to a local press report.
* In North Carolina, GOP nominee Michael Whatley regularly touts Trump's economic stewardship.
* "We feel pretty good about the economy," [Whatley] told Fox News in February.
* In January, on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, Whatley said Americans had "seen inflation prices come down so dramatically since President Trump took over." And in February, appearing on the same show, he said the "North Carolina economy is getting back on its feet."
* Those comments could easily come back to haunt Whatley, as his Democratic opponent -- former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper -- makes affordability central to his campaign.
* It's a similar story in Ohio, where incumbent Sen. Jon Husted -- who is seeking a full term in the upper chamber -- has defended Trump's trade policies. In October, Husted argued Trump was making "great progress" in taking on China, saying the country had been "ripping off America for decades" and it was "time to stand up to them," according to a local press report.
* In December, Husted also suggested there are three ways to address affordability concerns: "earn more, keep more of what you earn, and drive down prices." He insisted the GOP Congress and Trump were doing just that.
* Recent polling, however, suggests Americans aren't buying it.
* In December, long before the president opted to launch a war on Iran that led to higher gas prices, polling showed that only 36% of U.S. adults approved of the Trump's handling of the economy. By late March, that figure had dropped to 29%, with 62% disapproving of Trump's economic moves.
* And it's not just perception. Recent jobs reports show hiring on the whole has become stagnant, with the U.S. at times shedding jobs in recent months. The unemployment rate has also ticked slightly upward over the last year.
* [...] The political landscape has shifted. And these comments from GOP candidates present Democrats with a clear opportunity.
* Republicans, who hold unified control of Washington, are betting the economy improves before Election Day. And they're hoping their comments cheering on Trump and his economic ideas don't come back to bite them.
* And if the economy gets worse, a party that has relied on economic messaging to help them beat Democrats could be in real trouble. Seemingly innocuous statements touting Trump's economy could suddenly become potent political fodder.
* As Whatley said last June, in remarks tailormade for a political attack ad, "President Trump campaigned on bringing down gasoline prices, grocery prices, and housing prices." "How are we doing?" Whatley asked.
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Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/icymi-take-one-less-trip-to-starbucks-gop-senate-candidates-keep-dismissing-affordability-concerns-ms-now/
DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear Statement on One Year of Trump's Costly, Reckless Tariffs
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news on April 2, 2026:
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DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear Statement on One Year of Trump's Costly, Reckless Tariffs
On the one year anniversary of Donald Trump and Republicans imposing costly, reckless tariffs, DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear released the following statement:
"For the last year, Americans and American businesses have paid 90% of Trump's illegal tariffs, at a time when costs are too high and families need help. Prices at the grocery store and gas pump continue to rise, while the dream of owning
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news on April 2, 2026:
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DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear Statement on One Year of Trump's Costly, Reckless Tariffs
On the one year anniversary of Donald Trump and Republicans imposing costly, reckless tariffs, DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear released the following statement:
"For the last year, Americans and American businesses have paid 90% of Trump's illegal tariffs, at a time when costs are too high and families need help. Prices at the grocery store and gas pump continue to rise, while the dream of owninga home feels out of reach for too many people. Despite this, the President and Republicans continue to push a reckless agenda that puts their misplaced 'priorities' above the people they were elected to serve.
"Democrats running for governor in 36 races across our country this year are ready to listen to hard working Americans and deliver results that will make life better. Meanwhile, their Republican opponents are standing in support of Trump and his broken promises. It's time to elect Democratic leaders that will hold Trump and Republicans accountable for not putting America first."
The Associated Press recently reported on how Democrats have made the tariffs a "lethal issue" for Republicans in their campaigns for governor.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/dga-chair-governor-andy-beshear-statement-on-one-year-of-trumps-costly-reckless-tariffs/