Dems refuse to make 2024 mistakes in the wake of tariff ruling

The party is betting that a strong economic message will resonate better than emphasizing that the president is violating the law with his trade agenda.

Shoppers shop at a grocery store in Schaumburg, Illinois, Feb. 9, 2026. | Nam Y. Huh/AP

The Supreme Court’s tariff decision left the door wide open for Democrats to hammer President Donald Trump for violating the law. This time, they’re not taking the bait.

Instead, Democratic campaigns are leaning into an argument they have been making for months: Trump’s tariffs are coming out of voters’ pockets. Some Democrats can’t help but hit the tariffs as “unlawful,” but they’re pivoting quickly back to affordability.

“The decision is a significant development, but prices are still high for folks across the country, and the administration is determined to keep them high,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.,) chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “We are laser focused on affordability and holding Republicans accountable for raising prices on families across the country.”

© Politico