At the DNC winter meeting in Los Angeles, DNC Chair Ken Martin and former Vice President Kamala Harris blasted the Trump administration's handling of rising costs, with Martin bluntly saying 's— is too expensive.'
Harris urged Democrats to prioritize affordability, health care and democratic participation and to develop a clear plan for both the 2026 midterms and the post‑Trump era. She noted that affordability concerns are eroding public confidence in the American promise of opportunity.
The Democratic National Committee's winter meeting in Los Angeles featured blunt criticism of the Trump administration's record on rising costs and a renewed call from Democrats to make affordability a core message heading into upcoming elections.
DNC Chair Ken Martin opened the session by addressing the economic pressures many Americans face. He told party members that Democrats must continue to show up for ordinary families and make clear they understand the financial strain on households.
'Look, we know what's important right now,' Martin said. 'S— is too expensive. Paychecks are getting eaten up by Trump's tariffs. Small businesses are getting torched by the man in the White House. The job market is dead, layoffs are spiraling toward Great Recession levels, and God forbid if you're a young person trying to break into your first career.'
Martin accused Republican leaders of manufacturing today's economic problems rather than inheriting them, saying they took the economy 'and drove it straight into a ditch' and replaced certainty with chaos.
Later in the day, former Vice President Kamala Harris urged Democrats to craft a clear plan not only for the 2026 midterms but for the era after President Trump leaves office. She emphasized that affordability, health care access and civic participation must be central to the party's agenda.
'We need to answer the question, "What comes next for our party and our democracy?"' Harris said. 'And in so doing, we must be honest that for so many, the American dream has become more of a myth than a reality.'
Harris argued that affordability concerns are fueling public cynicism, fear and frustration — undermining confidence in government and the promise of opportunity.
President Trump has repeatedly said prices have fallen since he returned to the White House in January and blamed any remaining economic pain on the Biden administration. In an interview with Politico, he said, 'I inherited a total mess. Prices were at an all-time high when I came in. Prices are coming down substantially.'
Not all Republicans have echoed that upbeat assessment. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska) suggested the president and his inner circle may be out of touch with everyday financial realities, noting that presidents typically do not do their own shopping or pay their own household bills.
Democrats credited affordability as a decisive issue in several recent 2025 victories, including wins by Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill (NJ), Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (VA) and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (NYC). At the winter meeting, party leaders framed affordability as both a short-term campaign theme and a long-term governance priority.
Bottom line: The DNC is sharpening its economic messaging, putting affordability and everyday costs at the center of its pitch to voters as it prepares for the 2026 cycle and beyond.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
