Cost of Living: Midterm Voters Weigh Trump's Economic Record

The midterm elections arrive in seven days, and the price of gas is at the center of the debate. President Donald Trump promised to lower costs during his 2024 campaign, but many Americans say they are still paying more. The gap between that promise and their daily reality is shaping how voters mark their ballots.

Basic expenses have climbed since the president took office. A Ford F-150 now costs roughly $100 more than it did a year ago. Mortgage rates have risen, which has slowed home sales. Consumer prices have outpaced wage growth for the past 12 months, reducing the purchasing power of the average family.

Trump continues to campaign on the idea that the country is in an economic golden age. He argues that interest rates and oil prices will drop once the war with Iran ends. He calls the focus on affordability a con job by Democrats. He says the term does not mean anything to people.

Voters disagree with that assessment. Many blame the administration's tariff policies and the conflict with Iran for higher prices. Record-high diesel costs have raised shipping and farming expenses. This has created trouble for Republicans in conservative states like Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas. Democrats are competitive in these regions for the first time in years.

Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, describes the situation as a double whammy. She notes that people discuss the cost of goods first, but also complain that their pay does not keep up. Stephen Moore, a former economic advisor to the president, admits that the Iran situation has had a big effect on the economy. He says Republicans may pay a high price for that.

Individual voters in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas describe their struggles. Misty Reeder, 48, in Easley, South Carolina, said she picked all Democrats on her ballot. Her rent has increased by hundreds of dollars over six years. She called the pressure a dam that is about to break. Sandra Capell, 69, also in Easley, voted Republican but wants to see change. She said everybody is suffering with the cost of groceries and gas.

Beti Rosales, 47, owns a Mexican restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She said limes, avocados, and plumbing services cost more than before. She voted for Trump two years ago hoping for relief. Now she is considering voting Democratic. She said fresh new faces might make a difference. The prices of everything have increased, she noted.

The president has played down the intensity of inflation. He claims it is under 2% and under control. Inflation was 3% when he took office and reached 3.7% last month. Democrats are using this data to pressure vulnerable Republicans. They argue that the cost of living has never been higher in American history.

Democrats are also accusing Republicans of helping billionaire donors at the expense of everyday Americans. North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper says Washington politicians get rich while voters get hurt. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says the war abroad costs taxpayers a billion dollars a day. He argues that schools crumble and gas prices skyrocket while the administration spends freely.

Some Trump supporters remain satisfied with the current trajectory. Renee Blood, 57, an executive assistant in Round Rock, Texas, feels the economy has improved quite well. She plans to vote Republican because she worries things will get worse if Democrats return to power. She said the president's golden age might not have arrived, but the work is still ongoing.