48% of voters want grocery bills cut within six months
Democrats control both chambers of Congress after Tuesday's midterms but face a veto-happy president and a split Senate as they attempt to lower food costs.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
Nearly half of Americans polled in September said their primary goal was seeing grocery bills fall within six months.
Voters prioritized affordability and high food costs in the election that took place on Tuesday. The economic strain contributed to a Democratic victory in both chambers of Congress. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and the ongoing war in Iran were identified as key drivers of rising prices. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated on Friday that the new majority will target high prices when the new session begins in January. He described the outcome as a strong rebuke to MAGA extremism, claiming that policies under the current administration have increased living costs.
The path to lowering prices is complicated by the fact that President Trump remains in office. He holds the power to veto legislation and may resist reversing his signature tariffs or changing course on the Iran conflict. Senate Democrats do not have a supermajority, meaning they cannot override a veto or end a filibuster without Republican support. Lael Brainard, who leads The Kitchen Table Project, noted that consumers feel squeezed by prices that do not reflect actual production costs. She said, "They are feeling like they are getting squeezed by high prices that don't need to be that high."
Democrats plan to address food costs by rolling back tariffs and addressing energy prices. Current tariffs have raised the cost of imported foods and beverages. They have also increased expenses for the food industry by making machine parts and packaging more expensive to import. The Iran war has driven up energy costs, which raises the price of transporting goods. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz also disrupted global fertilizer trade, leading to higher costs for farmers. Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, said that while the president may want to reduce grocery costs, the distance between the White House and the new Democratic Congress is significant. He noted that the tools available to lower prices are currently in a state of political tension.
Incoming Democratic senators have proposed specific measures to aid consumers. James Talarico of Texas said he would defend federal food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP. The SNAP program is currently undergoing a major overhaul by the Trump administration, and participation has dropped sharply since last summer. Adam Hamilton of Kansas supports a national ban on dynamic pricing in grocery stores. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, along with other candidates, pledged to block mergers in the food industry that could increase consumer prices.
Democratic governors in at least 28 states will take office next year, bringing state-level efforts to the grocery aisle. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia proposed allowing local governments to suspend or eliminate sales taxes on groceries, baby formula, and diapers. Gina Hinojosa, the governor-elect of Texas, promised to ban predatory surveillance pricing and price gouging in stores. In New Mexico, Deb Haaland said the state would explore a policy similar to one in Albuquerque. That policy temporarily waives permitting fees for markets selling healthy food in areas with limited access to groceries.
The next step is for the new congressional leadership to draft legislation that can survive a presidential veto. State legislatures will also begin considering tax and pricing measures in the coming months. The timing of these actions will determine whether the relief voters requested in September arrives as promised.
