A Conservative Agenda for the 2026 Midterms

It’s the Economy, Again: Why Conservatives Must Become the Party of Affordability

There is an old political saying: “It’s the economy.” As America approaches the 2026 midterm elections, that message may be more important than ever. Americans care about the border. They care about crime. They care about national security, religious liberty, education, the Constitution, and the direction of our culture. Those issues matter greatly. But there is another issue confronting Americans every single day: Can I afford to live? Can I afford groceries? Can I fill up my truck? Can my family afford a house? Can I pay my insurance? Can I keep my small business open? Can I afford electricity? Can I raise my children without living paycheck to paycheck? Those questions cross political, racial, geographic, and generational lines. Recent polling shows why conservatives cannot afford to ignore them. Pew Research found that economic issues are at the forefront of voters' minds heading into the midterms, while other recent polling and reporting have repeatedly identified affordability as a central political concern. If conservatives want to win elections and more importantly, if we want conservative policies to improve people's lives we must become unmistakably the party of affordability.

Americans Are Feeling the Squeeze:

Politicians love statistics. Families live reality. A government report might tell someone inflation increased by a certain percentage, but the mother standing in the grocery store doesn't need Washington to tell her what she is experiencing. She sees the total at the register. The father filling his truck doesn't need an economist to explain gasoline prices. He sees the number spinning on the pump. The young couple trying to purchase their first house doesn't need a political speech. They see the monthly payment. And those pressures are real. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices in July 2026 were 3.4% higher than a year earlier. The affordability issue has become so politically important that both parties are fighting to claim it. That should tell conservatives something. We cannot simply tell Americans the economy is good. We must ask whether their economy is good.

Conservatives Must Talk About Kitchen-Table Economics:

Conservatives are usually comfortable discussing GDP, tax rates, regulation, government spending, and the national debt. Those things matter. But we need to translate conservative economics into the language of the kitchen table. Lower taxes mean you keep more of your paycheck. Affordable energy means it costs less to drive to work and cool your house. Fewer unnecessary regulations mean businesses spend less complying with Washington and can invest more in workers and customers. Fiscal responsibility means government stops borrowing against our children's future. Economic growth means more jobs, better wages, more opportunity, and more competition. Conservative economics should never be about protecting corporations or Wall Street. It should be about creating an economy where ordinary Americans can work, save, own property, raise families, start businesses, and build wealth. That is the American Dream.

Energy Is an Affordability Issue:

One of the greatest economic advantages America possesses is our ability to produce energy. Oil. Natural gas. Coal. Nuclear. Hydroelectric. Renewables where they make economic sense. America should pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy built around reliability, affordability, and national security. Energy costs don't stop at the gasoline pump. Energy affects nearly everything. Farmers need fuel. Truckers need diesel. Factories need electricity. Stores need heating and cooling. Food must be transported. Packages must be delivered. When energy becomes more expensive, those costs move through the entire economy. Gasoline prices have become an especially visible concern this Labor Day weekend, adding additional pressure to household budgets. Conservatives should make affordable American energy a centerpiece of the economic agenda.

Government Spending Matters:

Washington also needs to rediscover a word many politicians seem to have forgotten: NOOO!! No, government cannot fund everything. No, every government program cannot grow forever. No, every problem does not require another federal agency. No, politicians cannot continue borrowing trillions of dollars without consequences. The Congressional Budget Office projected a roughly $1.9 trillion federal deficit for fiscal year 2026, with federal spending around $7.4 trillion compared with approximately $5.6 trillion in revenue. That is not conservative government. Republicans should be willing to say something uncomfortable: both parties have contributed to America's debt problem. Fiscal responsibility should not matter only when Democrats control Washington. If we believe government is too big, then we should reduce it when Republicans are in charge too. Conservatism must mean something after Election Day.

Make It Easier to Build Things in America:

America should once again become the greatest place on Earth to build something. Build a house. Build a factory. Build a power plant. Build a small business. Build a farm. Build a manufacturing facility. Build a future. Government regulations have legitimate purposes. We need reasonable protections for public safety, property rights, and consumers. But government can also make ordinary economic activity unnecessarily difficult and expensive. Every unnecessary permit, delay, fee, mandate, and bureaucratic hurdle ultimately costs somebody money. Sometimes that somebody is a massive corporation. But often it is a plumber, electrician, farmer, contractor, restaurant owner, trucker, manufacturer, or young entrepreneur trying to get started. Conservatives should demand that government justify its regulations instead of forcing citizens to justify their freedom.

Housing Must Become Part of the Conservative Conversation:

Young Americans should not believe homeownership is an impossible dream. For generations, owning a home has represented stability, independence, family, and an opportunity to build wealth. Conservatives should defend that dream. But we should approach housing with conservative solutions. Cut unnecessary building restrictions. Encourage communities to allow more housing where appropriate. Reduce needless permitting delays. Protect private property. Expand skilled-trades opportunities. Encourage construction. Address government policies that unnecessarily increase building costs. The conservative solution isn't Washington owning everybody's house. It is removing barriers that make it harder for Americans to own one themselves.

Help Small Businesses Compete:

Drive through Mississippi, Louisiana, or nearly any community in America and you will see who really drives this country. Small businesses. Restaurants. Mechanic shops. Construction companies. Family farms. Barbers. Retail stores. Landscapers. Independent contractors. Church members who work all week and sign the front of somebody else's paycheck. These people don't have armies of lawyers and lobbyists in Washington. They have bills. Payroll. Insurance. Taxes. Fuel costs. Equipment payments. Conservatives should be their voice. Our economic message should be simple: Government should make it easier to work, easier to hire, easier to invest, easier to start a business, and easier to keep more of what you earn.

Affordability Is About Freedom:

There is also a deeper conservative principle at stake. Economic independence creates personal freedom. A family with savings has options. A family buried in debt has fewer. A small-business owner who can prosper independently has freedom. A citizen dependent on government for every necessity becomes increasingly dependent upon the politicians controlling government. That is why affordability isn't merely an economic issue. It is a liberty issue. Conservatives should want Americans prosperous enough that government doesn't control their future. We should measure success not by how many people government can support, but by how many people have the opportunity to support themselves.

Republicans Must Earn the Economic Argument:

Conservatives should not assume voters will automatically trust Republicans on the economy. Trust must be earned. Recent polling indicates Republicans face real political vulnerability over the cost-of-living heading into November. That should be a wake-up call. Republicans cannot spend recklessly and then campaign as fiscal conservatives. We cannot complain about inflation while supporting policies that unnecessarily raise costs. We cannot preach limited government while expanding government whenever our side controls it. And we cannot spend the entire election talking about Washington personalities while families are wondering how they will pay next month's bills. The conservative message should meet Americans where they live.

Make the American Dream Affordable Again:

The 2026 midterms should become an election about more than which political party controls Congress. They should become a debate about what kind of economy America wants. One where government grows—or families prosper. One where Washington decides—or individuals choose. One where dependency expands—or opportunity expands. One where our children inherit trillions more in debt—or inherit a country where hard work still means something. Conservatives should stand for lower taxes, responsible spending, affordable energy, fewer unnecessary regulations, strong small businesses, more housing opportunities, American production, and economic freedom. Our message should be understandable whether someone has a Ph.D. in economics or has never taken an economics class. You should be able to afford groceries. You should be able to afford your electric bill. You should be able to afford to drive to work. You should have a realistic opportunity to own a home. You should be able to start a business. And after working hard for your money, government should let you keep more of it. The conservative movement has always talked about freedom. Now we need to connect that freedom to the family budget. Because in 2026, the political movement that understands the struggles taking place around America's kitchen tables will have the opportunity to earn the trust of millions of voters.

Conservatives should make sure that movement is ours.