Nickel-and-dimed voters are ready to send politicians the bill

“It’s the economy, stupid.” That simple slogan coined by Democratic strategist James Carville helped propel Bill Clinton to victory over incumbent President George H.W. Bush. In 2026, with the midterm elections just a week away, Americans are sending politicians a message that’s just as simple.I live with my husband and six children in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. We both work in political media and are upper middle class. I grew up the only child of a single mother, who worked as a social worker until she went on disability when I was 10. The fact that I now consider my family to be upper middle class is a testament to the power of the American dream.But as we’ve opened our bills over the past year, and my eyes bulge out, I think about the single mothers on a very limited budget and know the toll it’s taking. For our family, every time our electric bill comes out double, it eats into our entertainment budget. For families like the one I grew up in, it cuts into the food budget. Politicians, of course, throw up their hands in resignation. During election season, candidates are full of promises, but during reelection season, they’re full of excuses.In my state of Maryland, the situation is particularly bad. Our economy, ranked second-to-last by CNBC, is constantly reeling with new regulations and taxes imposed by state-level politicians. Just this week, Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) announced his administration would be lowering electric bills by promoting renewable power. The problem for Maryland residents is that this push for clean and renewable energy is the reason why prices have skyrocketed. Before ensuring we had adequate supply, the state closed plants, sending prices up while out-of-state energy sources were secured.In every possible way, state and local politicians and governments are nickel-and-diming residents to death. From state and property taxes to increased car registration fees, residents are feeling the financial burden of local officials using our money to advance their political agendas.This nickel-and-diming causes basic infrastructure and services to fail. While politicians are consumed with advancing their own agenda, their constituents pay the price for their inattention to their obligations. The Washington area was flooded by sewage this winter thanks to severely compromised infrastructure. In response, water companies across the region are warning of possible rate hikes of 7%-11% in order to fund local upgrades.Federal officials aren’t off the hook with voters when it comes to the health of the economy. Last week, I filled my (admittedly large) SUV for $115 in Maryland. In California this week, I spent the same amount to fill a smaller SUV with 25% of the fuel tank still full. In California, the astronomical price of gas is in part due to state taxes and regulations. But around the country, gas prices have skyrocketed due to the conflict in Iran.Above all else, gas prices are the most visible and recurring reminder of how the economy is faring. Come Election Day, it’s likely that millions of people will hold the Trump administration, and therefore, Republican lawmakers responsible for budget pressures thanks to the rise in gas prices.Part of the blame is due to the Trump administration’s own messaging on the necessity of its actions on Iran. Americans can’t be expected to shoulder the burden of the conflict without complaint if they don’t know why it was necessary in the first place.One of its most important achievements, the Trump Accounts, isn’t immune from nickel-and-dime pressures. Analysts warn that Trump Accounts could make financial transactions more expensive. Those increased costs could be potentially far-reaching, making everything from online shopping to accessing financial data for loan applications and credit reports more expensive.If they face defeat this month, congressional Republicans wouldn’t just be taking the fall for the Trump administration. As the end of the year approaches, millions of people are receiving notices from their health insurance providers with shocking increases in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. For yet another year, we’re paying more for less.(Washington Examiner illustration; AP photo; Getty Images) The average annual health insurance premium for an American family has reached a record $28,303, an increase of $1,303, or 5%, over the past year. This marks the fourth consecutive year that family premiums have risen by at least $1,300 annually. Over those four years, premiums have surged by $5,884, or 26%, twice the 13% increase in the consumer price index over the same period. Since 1999, the average annual premium for family coverage has skyrocketed by $22,494, an astonishing 387% increase.This year I turned 40 years old, and the issue that animated my decision to enter politics, Obamacare, is as relevant now as it was when I was a college graduate. And people are well aware that Congress hasn’t done anything to ease the strain.Along with Carville’s famous warning, former President Ronald Reagan offered one of his own: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”HERE IS HOW MUCH PRICES FOR GROCERIES, GAS, UTILITIES, AND SHELTER ARE UP UNDER TRUMPEvery politician on the ballot next week would be wise to heed both warnings. People aren’t asking their elected officials to solve every problem in their lives. They’re asking them to stop making those problems worse. When government policies drive up the cost of electricity, banking, healthcare, and everyday necessities, politicians can’t simply throw up their hands and blame forces beyond their control.Voters may not understand every regulation or tax buried in their monthly bills. But they understand when they can no longer afford to pay them. And on Election Day, they’ll know exactly where to send the bill.