The 2026 mid-term elections offer the Democratic party an opportunity to regain control of the House and Senate. However, Democrats face an uphill battle challenged by Trump policies, anti-Democratic rhetoric, internal divisions, and political maneuvers such as re-districting. To address these challenges the Democratics need to articulate a political platform with issues that resonate with voters. While the need in every race is to prioritize concerns of local communities, a set of party-wide policy priorities that can be adapted to fit local needs would be helpful.
It is especially important that these the 2026 Democratic platform advocates policies that affect voters that have recently felt ignored by Democrats; for example, younger voters, workers, and those living in rural areas. This may require taking a more progressive, government intervention left-leaning stance.
The Democrats also need to steer clear of tit-for-tat politics, e.g. trying to reverse all of Trump’s Executive Orders (ignore most of them for the time being) and cast their messages in a positive light.
Here are some suggestions for issues that should be on this platform.
- Lower pocketbook Costs— Including lowering cost of groceries, rent subsidies, low-cost transportation, and health care
- Education Reform — Support the renewed interest in civics but how is it being taught
- Fight against oligarchy and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few; promote tax reform and the overturn of Citizens United.
- Support our allies on foreign policy issues; renew support for Ukraine and put pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza
- Denounce civil rights violations such as ICE raids and political violence and put forward a proposal for immigration reform.
- Increase support for the use of renewable energy and climate friendly policies.
- Support the regulation of information technologies, such as AI and social media.