Republicans are counting on President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” to be a winner with voters, while Democrats hope to make the massive law politically toxic ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Following the passage of Trump’s megabill, both sides of the aisle have pivoted to the campaign. Democrats have leaned into the bill changing Medicaid health coverage, as Republicans label it the biggest tax cut in American history.
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WHAT MADE IT INTO THE SENATE’S FINAL ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ AND WHAT DIDN’T
According to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll last month, 42% of Americans oppose the bill for “changing tax, spending and Medicaid policies,” compared with 23% who support it and 34% who claim they do not have an opinion. As awareness remains low, each party is trying to define the narrative.
“We have to keep driving the fact from fiction narrative,” House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner.
“But here’s the best thing about it all: because we were so aggressive in meeting our time frame goals, we now have more opportunity for the American people to experience the benefits of these policies,” he continued.
The GOP has centered its sales pitch on the bill being a major tax cut, including new breaks targeted for Social Security recipients and tipped workers, that could kickstart job growth. The bill pumps money into border security to hire new federal agents to carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants, another campaign promise from the president.
Now that congressional Republicans have passed his agenda, Trump said he wants them to sell the bill to the public next.
“All they have to do now is talk about how good it is, the biggest tax cuts ever, no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, think of it, no tax on overtime,” Trump said Monday evening.
As the midterm elections approach, Democrats have been searching for messaging that sticks after their massive loss in 2024 when the GOP secured a trifecta in Washington for the next two years. Dubbing the law the “big, ugly bill,” Democrats have called it a “cruel” GOP effort to take away healthcare and food assistance to provide tax cuts for the rich.
“House Democrats will spend every day of the next 16 months making sure moms, dads, seniors, and veterans know that Republicans took away their healthcare, raised their energy bills, and hiked their grocery costs,” House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) said in a statement following passage of the bill.
“When hospitals close, nursing homes turn away seniors, and insurance premiums skyrocket, the American people will know it’s Republicans who made their lives harder and more expensive. When kids are forced to skip meals and pregnant moms can’t find an OB/GYN, they will know it’s because Republicans chose to prioritize tax breaks for billionaires,” she added.
The GOP bill beefs up Medicaid work requirements for single, able-bodied adults and cuts into Planned Parenthood by stopping Medicaid funds from being allowed to reimburse health clinics that provide abortions. Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, would be cut through work requirements and other eligibility changes.
WHEN MEDICAID AND SNAP CHANGES FROM TRUMP’S BILL WILL KICK IN
“I think the bill is supposed to be the cornerstone of Trump’s presidency in a lot of ways, so having constituents and voters understand what is in this bill and what’s to come as a result of it is his party’s policy platform, I think is super important as a way of differentiating what the Dems have done in the past and also are offering as a party,” CEO of Girl and the Gov Sammy Kanter told the Washington Examiner.
Before the bill headed for final passage, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) delivered a record-breaking “magic minute” speech lasting nearly nine hours. In it, Jeffries highlighted personal stories of people on Medicaid who were concerned that they would lose healthcare coverage under the bill.
“As a result of the all-out Republican assault on healthcare in the U.S., people will die,” Jeffries said.
“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” he added.
Aside from the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, Democrats have begun messaging that the bill benefits billionaires through tax cuts.
“This bill is a betrayal of working Americans,” House Progressive Caucus Chairman Greg Casar (D-TX) said. “So that billionaires can buy bigger yachts, millions of working people will be unable to afford to go to the doctor, put food on the table, or keep the lights on.”
Republicans rebutted Democrats’ claims on healthcare by arguing they are preserving Medicaid for those who need it the most, and work requirements could lead to more people getting employer-provided health insurance. Republicans say that Democrats backed huge tax hikes for working Americans with their vote against the “beautiful” bill that extends expiring tax breaks.
“This vote cemented House Democrats’ image as elitist, disconnected, snobby, unconcerned with the problems Americans face in their daily lives, and most of all – out of touch,” National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesman Mike Marinella wrote in a statement.
“House Republicans will be relentless in making this vote the defining issue of 2026, and we will use every tool to show voters that Republicans stood with them while House Democrats sold them out,” he continued.
Advertisements have already begun since the passage last Thursday. Americans for Prosperity launched a new TV advertisement celebrating the Republican win.
“Americans for Prosperity would like to congratulate President Trump and Congress for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The multitrillion-dollar legislation is an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Trump tax cuts. The legislation passed through reconciliation extends the lower individual tax rates that were part of the 2017 law and makes them permanent. The bill also rolls back former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which phased out clean energy tax credits.
“We added significant resources to secure the border,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a critic of the bill, wrote in a statement after the bill passed. “We have extended tax relief for millions of Americans. We have passed the largest ‘mandatory’ spending reduction in American history. We have terminated about half of Joe Biden’s signature accomplishment, the “Green New Scam.”
Messaging for both parties will be crucial to the outcome next November, as Democrats aim to flip the House and Republicans look to keep control of the upper chamber.
There are 13 Senate Democrats up for reelection, with four competitive seats that they will have to defend heavily: incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and three open seats in Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire.
HIGHER CALLING: AMBITIOUS HOUSE MEMBERS EYE PROMOTIONS IN THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
For Republicans, 22 lawmakers are up for reelection, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the competitive state of Maine and North Carolina, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his retirement late last month.
There are also marquee governors’ elections in New Jersey and Virginia in 2025, plus “toss-up” races are in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada in 2026.