RELEASE: Ahead of 2026 Midterms, Murphy, Schiff, Smith, Warren call on Democrats to Embrace Economic Populism as the Tentpole of Party's Affordability Agenda
Deni Kamper
January 13, 2025
AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS, MURPHY, SCHIFF, SMITH, WARREN CALL ON DEMOCRATS TO EMBRACE ECONOMIC POPULISM AS THE TENTPOLE OF PARTY’S AFFORDABILITY AGENDA
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are making the case that Democrats should adopt an affordability agenda rooted in economic populism and breaking up concentrated corporate power. In a memo sent to their Democratic colleagues, the Senators argue that Donald Trump’s faux populism and brazen corruption offer Democrats an opportunity to rebuild credibility with working people - but only if the party is willing to distinguish themselves by leading the charge against the corporations and billionaires who are making it impossible for hardworking American families to achieve and afford a middle-class life.
Citing recent polling from the Century Foundation that shows overwhelming majorities of Americans believe corporations and the wealthy are ruthlessly wielding their power to gouge everyday Americans, the Senators make the case that voters are looking for political leaders to take on the corporate interests that dominate their lives but Democrats lack credibility with these voters. Data from The Working Class Project reveals that many working-class voters see the Democratic party as weak, ineffective, and not focused on economic problems. The Senators argue that to win back these voters, the party must adopt a more populist message that calls out the predatory behavior of corporate America, rather than trying to play both sides to placate big business. If Democrats are willing to embrace true economic populism, the Senators contend the party can carve out new coalitions of voters and fundamentally remake the electoral map.
“The American people have no illusions about who is making it impossible to pay the bills or buy a home,” Murphy said. “Every day, they are being screwed over by the insurance companies denying them coverage, the corporate landlords buying up homes and raising their rent, and the most corrupt president in our country’s history emptying the government coffers for his family and allies. Make no mistake, the economic populism we are advocating for isn’t just the best set of policies to deliver for working families – it’s also our party’s path to victory in 2026 and beyond. But if Democrats don’t step up and answer the American people’s anger over the corrupt concentration of corporate and billionaire power that has poisoned our economy and our politics, we will not earn back the trust of voters – and we’ll pay the price at the ballot box.”
"The American people know that this economy is not working for them, no matter how hard they try. Average families are working harder than ever, and still finding the dream of saving for a home or a business beyond their reach. This has left all too many millions of people willing to support any demagogue promising that they alone can fix it. If we are to restore real opportunity in America, and address the yawning gap between the extremely wealthy and everyone else, we must ensure that prosperity is shared. That means taking on the concentration of wealth and power enjoyed by large corporations and the billionaires who have put corporate interest over the public interest,” said Schiff.
“Far too many Americans are struggling to afford their lives — their groceries, health care, child care, and rent. And people know that the system is rigged, and they are working harder and harder for less and less while the biggest corporations and billionaires pocket the profits and leave us with the bills,” said Smith. “If Democrats want to win elections, and win back the trust of Americans, we need to show that we will fight against these powerful interests and concentrated power, and deliver for hardworking American families.”
“While Donald Trump focuses on building a gold-encrusted ballroom for himself and his corporate donors, working people are delaying medical care, buying fewer groceries and falling behind on their utility bills,” Warren said. “Voters overwhelmingly know that self-interested billionaires and giant corporations have rigged the system, and they support populist economic policies to level the playing field. For Democrats to earn back trust with working people and win elections in 2026, we’ve got to fight with some backbone.”
Click HERE to read the memo.
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