Democrats have renewed hope heading into the 2026 midterm elections that what they see as a major blunder on the part of the GOP could prove costly for Republicans, several Democratic strategists said recently.
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act made several changes to Social Security, among them being tax deductions that critics say could accelerate the popular program’s road to insolvency. Will Van Nuys, the deputy executive director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the issue could prove to be a huge political win for Democrats next year.
“This is the first time since 2006 that I would say Republicans went ahead and grabbed the third rail of politics,” Nuys said, speaking with NOTUS in a report published Wednesday.
“This issue fits right into our broader frame, which is a frame on costs of the economy. And further, when you look at the midterm electorate, they are older voters, they are working voters who are having to help support their elderly parents, or folks who just feel left behind by the economy.”
Republicans have long sought to either gut or privatize Social Security, a New Deal-era program that many conservative lawmakers have sought to trim or outright eradicate since its establishment nearly a century ago. Former President George W. Bush launched a failed push to partially privatize the program, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan repeatedly sought to trim and privatize the program.
And more recently, Rep. Rick Scott (R-FL) unveiled a plan to outright sunset Social Security with his “Rescue America” plan, a proposal so politically toxic that it was immediately seized upon by Democrats for campaign material.
Trump has treaded carefully when discussing Social Security, having repeatedly vowed to not touch the program, and even warning Republicans not to touch the program either. His signature bill, however, will impact the program, and to such an extent that Democrats believe they can carry news of the bill’s impact on Social Security to electoral victory next year.
“This is off the charts territory,” said Dan Adcock, who leads government relations and policy at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, speaking with NOTUS. “We’ve never been in this situation.”
Republicans, however, say they’re not afraid, at least according to Mike Marinella, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, who told NOTUS that Democrats’ messaging around Social Security was a “load of bull----.”
“At this point, Democrats roll out a new load of bullshit every week and think they can fool voters with baseless claims and tired fear-mongering,” Marinella said. “It only proves they have no message besides lies, gaslighting, and recycled attacks. No wonder their party’s poll numbers are buried 50 feet below rock bottom.”