Recent affordability polling should be a wake-up call for the Right heading into the 2026 midterm elections: Americans believe Democrats care more about shielding them from rising utility bills than Republicans.

Energy costs matter as more than just a proxy for affordability — they sit at the foundation of nearly every cost-of-living pressure Americans face, especially for things like gas, utilities, and groceries that comprise the bulk of kitchen-table politics. Republicans must address this at the grid level if they seek to provide a vision worth voting for.