By Wes Farno (Director of General Consulting)
Economic anxiety now dominates American politics, which was made evident on Tuesday. Across Virginia, New Jersey, California, and New York City, voters put the cost of living, jobs, and financial stability above every other issue.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears by 15 points, with half of voters naming the economy as their top concern. New Jersey voters re-elected Mikie Sherrill while splitting evenly between “taxes” and “the economy.” In New York City, the cost of living ranked first; crime barely registered, despite a 20% higher crime rate than pre-pandemic levels. Californians passed a redistricting measure strengthening Democrats, yet over half said they felt angry or dissatisfied with the country’s direction.
Roughly six in ten voters say their finances are “holding steady,” but only one in four feels they’re moving ahead. More than 60 percent report frustration with national leadership. The triggers are different but unifying under an affordability umbrella: property taxes in New Jersey, federal cuts in Virginia, and housing in New York. It is very clear that families feel squeezed.
Republicans have an incredible opportunity because voters aren’t demanding purity; they’re rewarding competence. Inflation fatigue is real, and cultural fights no longer move swing voters.
The GOP advantage lies in offering credible, pragmatic solutions that address kitchen-table issues.
- Affordability: “Families are paying more and getting less.”
- Jobs: “It shouldn’t take a college degree to make a good living.”
- Fiscal discipline: “Families balance their budgets; government should too.”
Voters are no longer satisfied with slogans about tax cuts; they want tangible solutions that impact their daily lives. We need to make our economic message more relatable. Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City showed that voters (even if we know they will fail) respond to candidates who offer specific, relatable ideas. If we are going to win next November, we must do the same. We must offer a plan to make it easier to start a business, learn a trade, or buy a first home. The contrast we should draw is not just about philosophy but practicality. While the left wants to grow government, we should show how conservative ideas empower people to build stability for themselves.
The tone should be empathetic, not angry. Localize the message to reflect what voters feel at home: higher bills, stagnant wages, fading optimism. To win, we must then offer real-world solutions to their real-world problems. It shouldn’t be difficult; we are the party that believes in the ingenuity of Americans.
