A new piece of Democrats' midterm strategy: Being 'practical'

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Set us as preferred WASHINGTON — Democrats are making a growing effort to adopt a pragmatic focus as they campaign on affordability in the midterms, as some within the party push for moving away from ideological arguments.Across the country, Democratic candidates are trying to win over voters by talking about real-life scenarios, framing other platform issues in economic terms and, strategists say, aiming to shift a perception that Democrats deal in the abstract.They see an opening created by voters’ focus on the economy and their ability as the party not in power to leverage affordability as the key midterms issue as Trump’s economic approval remains low.Trump has dismissed the issue, calling affordability a “hoax” by Democrats while also promising economic improvements.“There has been a learning process in being able to take what Trump and the Republicans are doing and make sure that [candidates] are coming back to the real-world economic implications of whatever that might be,” Democratic strategist Alex Jacquez, who served in the Biden White House.

“That’s where maybe [Democrats] haven’t always, in the recent past, made the full connection all the way through.”Now, “the moment is ripe,” he suggested, for the party to shift its image.The Democrats’ concentration on affordability and the economy has defined their midterm messaging, playing off elevated inflation, the effects of Trump’s tariffs and high gas prices caused by the war in Iran.The party is attempting to capture enough swing voters to win a House majority in November, and some believe the Senate could also be within reach.Polling shows pessimism about the economy has increased among all Americans and most believe the country is in an affordability crisis.

Americans most frequently mention government leadership and economic issues a...