Republicans are entering midterm campaign mode with an emphasis on messaging about affordability.

As President Donald Trump recently kicked off a speaking tour on affordability in Pennsylvania, Republicans on the Hill are attempting to do their part to make America more affordable.

The Trump Factor

Last Tuesday, Trump made his first stop in a new tour of House swing districts, where he personally took on Democrats’ claims to be the party championing a lower cost of living.

“I have no higher priority than making America affordable again,” Trump said at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, located in the state’s hotly contested 8th Congressional District, which is represented by Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa. “That’s what we’re going to do. And again, [Democrats] cause the high prices and we’re bringing them down.”

Trump, however, has previously suggested that the affordability narrative pushed particularly by Democrats is a hoax.

The domestic trip comes after months in which Trump has held few large campaign-style rallies, instead spending much time at his residences and travelling abroad.

Vice President JD Vance also appears to be mindful of the importance of swing districts in the upcoming elections, as he is scheduled to rally in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District this Tuesday, where Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., won by just over 4,000 votes in 2024.

Historically, midterm elections take away representation from the party in the White House. With narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, Republicans will have to buck that trend to maintain their trifecta.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has spoken about the strategy Trump will employ, saying in a recent interview that Trump will emphasize his importance in the elections in order to mobilize turnout from his base.

“Typically in the midterms it’s not about who’s sitting at the White House,” Wiles said. “You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it. We’re actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters.”

Trump has previously proposed holding a “Midterm convention” to tout the accomplishments of his administration. His next major opportunity to speak to the American people will likely be his joint address to Congress in 2026.

GOP Congress Taking Action on Affordability

In Congress, Republicans have worked to advance health care legislation to counter Democrats’ claims that the GOP will allow major premium increases if President Joe Biden’s boosts to Affordable Care Act premium tax credits expire at the end of the year.

The push comes after Democrats messaged heavily on health care affordability throughout the shutdown and Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on a platform of government intervention to lower costs.

Last week, Senate Republicans attempted to bring to a vote a bill from Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, which would put in place of premium tax credits new health savings accounts that would have funds deposited by the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds could not be used for abortion or gender-transition procedures. 

In theory, the Cassidy-Crapo bill would widen plan options for consumers and prevent money from going directly to insurance companies.

However, it failed by a 51-48 vote.

In the House, Republicans have rolled out a health care package of their own, which will appropriate money from the Treasury for a cost-sharing reduction program.

House Republican leadership aides say could lead to substantial premium reductions.

The bill also includes provisions requiring pharmacy benefit managers to be more transparent with employers, as well as provisions ensuring employers “can protect themselves from catastrophic claims” through access to stop-loss insurance plans.

Republicans’ success or failure in branding themselves as the party championing premium affordability could be crucial in the midterms.

Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell contributed to this report.

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