Detonating the Debt Bomb: Messaging Advice for Reconciliation
Introduction
Democrats have a new opportunity to go on offense over fiscal responsibility and the economy—just as Republicans are adding trillions to the national debt, slashing people’s health care, and shoveling tax breaks to those at the very top.
Third Way worked with Expedition Strategies to field focus groups and a poll of 2,000 likely voters from five 2026 Senate battleground states (Georgia, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, and North Carolina).
We found that Trump and Republicans are fumbling key issues as voters lose confidence in the economy, reel from tariffs, and fear for a recession. But Republican losses have not translated into Democratic gains. With the Republican tax package and the Trump tariffs now occupying center stage, Democrats can drive public sentiment with a simple message: The Trump plan will bankrupt us. It will bankrupt America with trillions in dangerous new debt. It will bankrupt Americans with expensive new tariffs that drive up costs. And it will slash people’s health coverage, which could cost them their savings and their lives.
In this case study, Third Way summarizes voter sentiment on the economy and fiscal issues and provides a series of actionable messaging strategies on how Democrats can detonate the GOP’s debt bomb during reconciliation.
Key Points - What Voters Feel
Economy is still top of mind—as is a recession. Voters overwhelmingly want Congress to focus on the economy, and part of that focus stems from recession fears.
Despite GOP issues, Democrats are not capitalizing. Amid DOGE dysfunction, tariffs, and economic chaos, Democrats don’t have any advantage in voters’ eyes.
Democrats have a serious brand problem on spending.
Fiscal responsibility and accountability are priorities for voters.
Voters prioritize fiscal balance. Almost half of voters think that a fiscally responsible Member of Congress would both raise some taxes and cut some spending to deal with the federal deficit.
Voters believe fiscal responsibility will make the economy stronger and fairer.
Voters want to take a paring knife, not a chainsaw, to spending.
Not all cuts are smart cuts. For instance, a majority of voters who say cutting IRS staff and taxes for the wealthy are fiscally irresponsible actions.
Tradeoffs make a nod to deficit reduction. If taxes were raised by $100, reducing the national debt would be the preferred tradeoff.
How Democrats Can Detonate the GOP Debt Bomb
Call out the Republican debt bomb. Focusing on how Republicans are adding trillions of dollars to the national debt takes ground from the GOP.
Use the B word. Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will bankrupt The House-passed bill adds $2.4 trillion of new debt on top of the trillions in deficit spending we were already facing.
Break the status quo on spending. To be taken more seriously with voters outside the base, they need to see examples of Democrats eliminating waste in government and ideally reducing spending.
Be balanced when it comes to fiscal responsibility. Voters know we have to fix our tax system and confront wasteful spending.
Don’t let Trump & the GOP off the hook. Billionaires should pay more in taxes. But remember: billionaires are not on the ballot—Trump and the GOP majority are.
Don’t forget the tariffs. Tariffs are unpopular because they raise costs. They are a tax increase that bankrupts the middle class. Call them out.
Be for middle-class tax cuts and opposed to the rest of the garbage that explodes the debt and takes people’s health care away.
Fight for the principle that tax cuts are not free. If Republicans don’t pay for their bill, it means the middle class will be saddled with debt for generations.