American families must spend $1,043 more per month to buy the same stuff, in the same amounts, that they did in 2021. Kena Betancur/Bloomberg/Getty Images New York —

It’s the circle of political life: Now, as in 1992 when Bill Clinton was trying to unseat George H.W. Bush, what ails the electorate can be boiled down to a soundbite: It is, in fact, the economy, stupid.

Democrats trounced Republicans on Tuesday in three key races with little in common apart from one issue — affordability. It’s the same problem that propelled President Donald Trump to a second term. And the same problem that Trump, who promised lower prices on “Day One,” has let fester as he carries out an economic agenda of tariffs, tax cuts and deportations that are, unavoidably, inflationary.

Elections in Virgi

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