Democrats subtly criticize Trump's economic policies
One month into the president's new term, Democratic governors are becoming aware of the difficulties posed by rising expenses.
TroibNews 
Democrats have spent the last four years defending the economy, but now they are shifting their focus to use it as a political weapon.
This marks a significant change for a party that previously maintained that the economy was performing well and that Joe Biden successfully managed inflation. In recent state addresses, Democratic governors nationwide have expressed sympathy for Americans who are feeling the pinch of rising costs for housing, groceries, and childcare, while also attributing the blame to Republicans just a month into the president's second term. This strategy is especially important for state leaders, many of whom have presidential aspirations for 2028, as they seek to turn a previously detrimental issue for Democrats in the 2024 elections to their advantage.
In battleground Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs criticized the high cost of living, stating, “you shouldn’t have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.”
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore linked the negative impact on the middle class to Trump’s trade policies and the downsizing of the federal government, declaring that it had “the distinct impact of hurting the middle class, which is already feeling the pinch of inflation.”
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont referenced “our north stars are affordability and opportunity.”
While these governors rarely mention Trump explicitly, this reflects a shift away from the anger that characterized the party during his first term. Instead, they are actively working to connect Trump and the GOP to the economic difficulties that they plan to leverage in the upcoming midterms and the 2028 elections.
“While they may not be referring to him by name, the fact that they’re talking sort of pocket book or kitchen table issues around high cost of eggs, gas, childcare, feels in large part to me like they learned from Trump’s election in 2024 and are responding to what voters indicated were their top priorities around economic growth and inflation,” stated Abbie Hodgson, a speechwriter for former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “Directly confronting him will not constrain him in any way, and they’re focusing on the nexus of their own control, which is their state and the issues and topics in which they can make a difference.”
This strategic shift by Democrats mirrors how the Republican Party evolved in 2009, moving from defending George W. Bush’s economic record to questioning Barack Obama with “Where are the jobs?” This approach could be crucial for the upcoming midterm elections.
Public concern about the economy was a significant disadvantage for Democrats in November, with exit polls indicating that 53 percent of voters trusted Trump over Kamala Harris on economic issues.
Now, however, the economy may be perceived as part of Trump’s legacy. Early signs suggest that his initial popularity is waning, as more Americans express worries about the economy’s direction. A recent poll showed a slight decline in Trump’s support, accompanied by a rise in disapproval ratings.
“Governors, particularly governors in red states, have continued to say this entire economy has been rigged by the very people who have been making false promises to solve it,” remarked Stacy Pearson, a Democratic strategist in Arizona.
For Democrats, the focus on economic issues is both opportunistic and a recognition of voters' frustration with rising costs that exceeded the party's expectations.
In California, ambitious Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential contender for 2028, spent months engaging with voters in red areas to address working people's economic concerns and to propose regional plans to stimulate growth.
Although Newsom's economic tour was disrupted by fires in Los Angeles and subsequent recovery efforts, he has issued executive orders targeting rising utility costs and California's "affordability crisis." He has also sought to hold oil companies accountable for the state’s persistently high gas prices, informing lawmakers about a possible refinery outage that could drive costs up by 38 cents per gallon.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, also eyeing a presidential bid and known for his strong stance against Trump, delivered a lengthy critique against the new administration in his recent address, even drawing historical parallels between Trump and the rise of totalitarianism in Germany.
“The seed that grew into a dictatorship in Europe a lifetime ago didn’t arrive overnight,” he stated. “It started with everyday Germans mad about inflation and looking for someone to blame.”
Yet, like his Democratic colleagues, Pritzker emphasized the financial realities faced by Americans and the potential impact of federal funding freezes linked to Musk's actions.
“We ought to be focused on making life more affordable for everyday Illinoisians,” Pritzker said, highlighting previous initiatives like the child tax credit and the elimination of the state grocery tax. “This year, we are going to need to do even more to address high prices and counteract Trump’s tariffs that will raise taxes on working families.”
Christopher Cadelago and Debra Kahn contributed to this report.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
This marks a significant change for a party that previously maintained that the economy was performing well and that Joe Biden successfully managed inflation. In recent state addresses, Democratic governors nationwide have expressed sympathy for Americans who are feeling the pinch of rising costs for housing, groceries, and childcare, while also attributing the blame to Republicans just a month into the president's second term. This strategy is especially important for state leaders, many of whom have presidential aspirations for 2028, as they seek to turn a previously detrimental issue for Democrats in the 2024 elections to their advantage.
In battleground Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs criticized the high cost of living, stating, “you shouldn’t have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.”
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore linked the negative impact on the middle class to Trump’s trade policies and the downsizing of the federal government, declaring that it had “the distinct impact of hurting the middle class, which is already feeling the pinch of inflation.”
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont referenced “our north stars are affordability and opportunity.”
While these governors rarely mention Trump explicitly, this reflects a shift away from the anger that characterized the party during his first term. Instead, they are actively working to connect Trump and the GOP to the economic difficulties that they plan to leverage in the upcoming midterms and the 2028 elections.
“While they may not be referring to him by name, the fact that they’re talking sort of pocket book or kitchen table issues around high cost of eggs, gas, childcare, feels in large part to me like they learned from Trump’s election in 2024 and are responding to what voters indicated were their top priorities around economic growth and inflation,” stated Abbie Hodgson, a speechwriter for former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “Directly confronting him will not constrain him in any way, and they’re focusing on the nexus of their own control, which is their state and the issues and topics in which they can make a difference.”
This strategic shift by Democrats mirrors how the Republican Party evolved in 2009, moving from defending George W. Bush’s economic record to questioning Barack Obama with “Where are the jobs?” This approach could be crucial for the upcoming midterm elections.
Public concern about the economy was a significant disadvantage for Democrats in November, with exit polls indicating that 53 percent of voters trusted Trump over Kamala Harris on economic issues.
Now, however, the economy may be perceived as part of Trump’s legacy. Early signs suggest that his initial popularity is waning, as more Americans express worries about the economy’s direction. A recent poll showed a slight decline in Trump’s support, accompanied by a rise in disapproval ratings.
“Governors, particularly governors in red states, have continued to say this entire economy has been rigged by the very people who have been making false promises to solve it,” remarked Stacy Pearson, a Democratic strategist in Arizona.
For Democrats, the focus on economic issues is both opportunistic and a recognition of voters' frustration with rising costs that exceeded the party's expectations.
In California, ambitious Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential contender for 2028, spent months engaging with voters in red areas to address working people's economic concerns and to propose regional plans to stimulate growth.
Although Newsom's economic tour was disrupted by fires in Los Angeles and subsequent recovery efforts, he has issued executive orders targeting rising utility costs and California's "affordability crisis." He has also sought to hold oil companies accountable for the state’s persistently high gas prices, informing lawmakers about a possible refinery outage that could drive costs up by 38 cents per gallon.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, also eyeing a presidential bid and known for his strong stance against Trump, delivered a lengthy critique against the new administration in his recent address, even drawing historical parallels between Trump and the rise of totalitarianism in Germany.
“The seed that grew into a dictatorship in Europe a lifetime ago didn’t arrive overnight,” he stated. “It started with everyday Germans mad about inflation and looking for someone to blame.”
Yet, like his Democratic colleagues, Pritzker emphasized the financial realities faced by Americans and the potential impact of federal funding freezes linked to Musk's actions.
“We ought to be focused on making life more affordable for everyday Illinoisians,” Pritzker said, highlighting previous initiatives like the child tax credit and the elimination of the state grocery tax. “This year, we are going to need to do even more to address high prices and counteract Trump’s tariffs that will raise taxes on working families.”
Christopher Cadelago and Debra Kahn contributed to this report.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
