DNC plans weekend of events to focus on affordability concerns
[June 27, 2026]
By MATT BROWN
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic National Committee is organizing
hundreds of community events across the country this weekend in hopes of
harnessing the same concerns about affordability that President Donald
Trump capitalized on to return to the White House.
The events include school supply giveaways, food bank drives,
neighborhood door knockings and organizer trainings.
“Everything costs too damn much under Donald Trump and the Republicans,”
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.
Martin said party members planned “to reach, engage, register, and
mobilize voters who will make the difference in races up and down the
ballot.”
Two years ago, Democrats were the ones accused of being indifferent to
Americans’ anger about rising prices. Now they're pointing the finger at
Trump, who has downplayed the impact of lingering inflation.
He has described affordability concerns as a “hoax” and recently said,
“I love the inflation” because he expects costs to drop as he tries to
resolve his war with Iran.
About one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the
economy, according to an AP-NORC poll from June. That’s down from the
start of his second term, when 40% approved.
About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say the country’s economy is “poor,” according
to an AP-NORC poll from June. That’s up from 65% in March, and
underscores Americans’ ongoing unhappiness with the cost of living,
which is being compounded by high gas prices due to the war in Iran.
Slightly more U.S. adults say the Democratic Party would do a better job
than the Republican Party in handling inflation and the cost of living,
according to a Marquette Law School/SSRS poll from May. Roughly
one-third of U.S. adults — 35% — said the Democrats would do a better
job, while 28% believe the Republicans would. Roughly one-third say the
parties would be the same, or neither would be good.
This weekend's events vary by region.
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An electronic billboard that reads "I love the inflation." - Donald
J. Trump June 10, 2026," is seen near I-74 in Cincinnati, Tuesday,
June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham will convene a training
for 150 potential campaign staffers. Nevada’s statewide campaigns
will knock on doors in rural and working class neighborhoods. Others
will call voters in swing districts with competitive U.S. House
races to talk about the rising price of gas.
Some events are geared toward directly helping voters to persuade
them that Democrats are concerned about affordability.
For instance, the local party in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, plans to
collect and distribute school supplies to poor families. And
canvassers will fan out to discuss affordability issues in Arizona,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Republican National Committee dismissed the weekend's events.
“Despite being millions of dollars in debt, the DNC is choosing to
throw pitiful pep rallies to distract from the fact they created the
inflation crisis," said Delanie Bomar, an RNC spokeswoman.
"Meanwhile, Republicans are hard at work fixing the economic mess
Joe Biden and the Democrats created.”
Democrats hope that the events will show that their time in the
political wilderness has made it more serious and effective at
tackling kitchen table issues. But some fear their agenda may not be
heard by voters in an increasingly fractured media environment.
“One of Donald Trump’s greatest strengths is that he’s so loud,”
said Brian Derrick, a Democratic strategist. He said that events
like the weekend’s itinerary help Democrats focus on an “Achilles’
heel” issue for Trump, “which right now is his lack of interest in
addressing everyday costs for people.”
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