President Donald Trump received a flashing warning sign amid the GOP’s widespread losses across the country last night, according to the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board. In their Wednesday morning commentary, the board highlighted that Democrats have rallied around one of the main issues that secured Trump’s 2024 election victory in the first place: affordability.
“Democrats are turning the tables on affordability, especially when they steer clear of leftist cultural snares,” the editorial board wrote.
Candidates across all wings of the Democratic Party—from more center-left gubernatorial hopefuls like Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, to progressive leftists such as Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race—centered their campaigns on cost of living, inflation, and tackling housing expenses. This strategy puts a glaring spotlight on Trump, who campaigned heavily on these issues last year but has seen many of them stagnate or worsen under his watch.
“It’s telling that Ms. Sherrill tried to claim the mantle of affordability, promising to freeze utility rates, while attacking Mr. Ciattarelli as ‘High Tax Jack,’ based on a deceptive video clip,” the board noted.
The editorial cautioned that if Democrats can convince voters they are a better choice for economic progress, the GOP could face significant trouble in the 2026 midterms. “President Trump’s tariffs aren’t helping. Neither is the 3% inflation still eating away at the earnings and raises of American workers,” they added.
Having sounded the alarm for months about Trump’s tariff policies, the board expressed doubt that things will improve for the GOP as the 2026 election cycle approaches.
“This time Democrats had the advantage of rallying voters upset at President Trump. Exit polls showed Mr. Trump’s approval rating at 44% in New Jersey and 42% in Virginia. The era of MAGA triumphalism should be over,” the editorial stated.
The only possible consolation for traditional Republicans, the board suggested, is that despite Mamdani’s pledges of rent freezes and free bus service, “Democrats can see a model of electoral success that isn’t rooted in radicalism.”
In summary, they concluded: “The challenge for Republicans is that Democrats outside New York may be learning from their 2024 defeat.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-wsj-2674266968/
