With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, congressional Republicans have limited time to address the mounting affordability crisis. As the cost of living ranks as the top issue on voters’ minds, the midterm elections risk becoming a referendum on pocketbook pressures.

Women, the largest voting bloc in the country, are particularly attuned to these challenges. That’s why the Washington Examiner partnered with Independent Women this week for an op-ed series, Reclaiming Affordability, featuring policy experts with realistic solutions.

Each day this week, experts from Independent Women examined the crisis from fresh angles — covering housing, energy, healthcare, child care, and elderly care — leaving no major driver of household costs unexplored. The groundwork is laid. Now it’s up to policymakers to deliver.

AMERICA’S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS A HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE CAN FIX IT IN THREE STEPS

Below you will find excerpts from each op-ed in the series, followed by a link to read each piece in its entirety.

Reasonable cost of living is on women’s minds. Here’s how to deliver it

Affordability is top of mind for women, especially those who are responsible for other family members. In most households, women make the spending decisions — from groceries to housing to children’s extracurricular activities. They are most concerned about affording housing, healthcare, and other basic needs such as utilities. According to a New York Times survey, 70% of women think a middle-class lifestyle is out of reach for most Americans, and 40% of women think the life they should be able to afford is out of reach for them.

In recent years, what used to be considered a normal lifestyle has become unaffordable. A quarter of American households live paycheck to paycheck, and only 47% of Americans can cover an emergency expense. Current generations are paying more of their income than ever to afford necessities such as housing and education. In a rapidly changing world, policies that support affordability are more important than ever. 

Policymakers need to focus on creative housing solutions, reliable energy grids, transparent healthcare, and flexible work options that enable caring for children or elderly parents. Fortunately, these policies exist, as detailed in a new report, Reclaiming Affordability. The Trump administration is already moving the needle by increasing take-home pay and cutting taxes through the Working Families Tax Cuts, also known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. 

Affordability concerns will not go away with subsidies and cronyism; the status quo will only worsen the cost of living for women. However, free-market policies that reduce regulations, business costs, and tax........

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