Campaigning on the high price of everything
The old news is new: With the largest voter turnout in New York City in 50 years, an anti-Israel, anti-Zionist socialist was elected mayor. And with the election of Zohran Mamdani, the power and noise of the Democratic Party’s radical left wing is reaching even higher decibels. The Mamdani shock wave put his earliest supporters, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) within striking distance of the Democrats’ current congressional leadership, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New Yorkers.
The stunning Mamdani win, attributed to the “unaffordability” of the Big Apple, also accelerated the rise in Congress of left-wing Democrats and shook up the denizens of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The small group of radicals led by Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of her “Squad” members have been sounding off in the halls of Congress, the media, and in the streets gathering support for their left-wing causes. And that sentiment is coming to a town or school near you. The progressives are not out of sync with the agenda being set by the Far Left.
The Democratic agenda in Bucks County and other states focused less on local issues and more on Republican President Donald Trump’s policies and demeanor. Notably, in recent Pennsylvania campaigns, including two gubernatorial races, the Democratic candidates seized the key campaign issue raised by Trump, in the 2024 campaign — cost of living. Immigration was on the list, but voters were (and remain) primarily concerned about affordability, as the results bear out.
Not surprisingly, cost of living was crucial to the Democratic victories in New Jersey (Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill) and Virginia (Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger) as well as Mamdani’s New York win.
Despite the Democratic success in the off-year election, when the party in power typically loses, we see the Democrats engaged in an identity crisis. (How Left are we?) Economic issues undoubtedly gave the Democrats decisive wins, but at the same time we see the rise of left-wing, socialist sympathizers and their increased influence within the party. Mamdani’s victory was a large part of that.
If the national Democratic party is dominated by the Left, they will feverishly make their case on Capitol Hill against all that is Trump, opposing his immigration policies and his appointments. They will continue to defend the indefensible until the congressional campaigns in 2026.
What does the Bucks County Republican rout in November mean for 2026? Bucks is the only “purple” county in a sea of “blue” among the Philadelphia collar communities of Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. And Bucks County’s First Congressional District is expected to get plenty of attention and money in the upcoming campaign where Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who has no primary challenger so far, will likely face Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie (D) in the general election.
The outcome of the November 4, 2025 “rout” is cause for a new strategy for Bucks Republicans who were swept out of office — top to bottom in the county, despite the GOP’s slight registration margin over Democrats.
That happened despite the election win for Trump in 2024 and his slight win in Bucks County. The successful campaign that returned Trump to office was its focus on working and middle-class voters, and targeting rising costs, which were attributed to the previous administration, of course.
And this year with the economy highlighted in successful Democratic campaigns, coupled with attacking Trump and his agenda, “affordability” is the new buzzword and a likely theme in upcoming campaigns, unless Trump “fixes” the economy, as promised.
Republicans have a lot of work to do, including getting the vote out. In the recent county election Republican voters stayed home in large numbers. Was it apathy, overconfidence within the Bucks County Republican Committee, or dissatisfaction with Trump — or did GOP leaders discount Trump’s low favorability numbers?
These are questions that should be addressed before the new year by Chairperson Pat Poprik and other BCRC leaders.
Also, Republicans would be wise to listen to Fitzpatrick, who has a record of getting things done and working across the aisle. In a recent television interview, he said Republicans need to offer “solutions,” as in bipartisan bills that will address the health care dilemma and other affordability issues that affect average, hard-working Americans.
Meanwhile, Democrats will get together before the 2026 election cycle, despite apparent dysfunction, and unite behind their common goal: Take back the White House in 2028, increase the number of justices on the nine-member Supreme Court, and turn back the clock on Trump policies, including immigration. And if they must sound like Republicans, to win, they’ll do it.
What’s the objective for the GOP? Obviously, stop the Democrats.
Starting at the top, Trump is hitting the campaign trail early, having visited the Pocono Mountains this past week, talking about — what else? — cost of living and his administration’s successes.
As expected, Trump points out he inherited “a mess” from the Biden administration, casting blame on the former president for rising prices. But on the stump, the confident president ensures his policies will get us into the “affordable zone.”
It’s going to be an exciting 2026!
Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.
