$50 Million Push Aims to Make Child Care a Top Midterm Issue

Advocacy group launches major campaign to boost Democratic candidates focused on caregiving costs

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:12am

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An advocacy group called the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy plans to spend $50 million to support Democratic candidates in congressional races who are making child and elder care affordability a key part of their platforms. The group hopes to elevate caregiving costs as a major issue in the upcoming midterm elections, citing the rising expenses of child care that now often exceed housing costs for many families.

Why it matters

The high and rising costs of child care have become a significant financial burden for many American families, especially those in the 'sandwich generation' caring for both children and aging parents. By making caregiving a central campaign issue, the advocacy group aims to pressure candidates to propose and enact policies that would provide more affordable access to child and elder care services.

The details

The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy plans to direct its $50 million in funding towards supporting Democratic candidates in key Senate races in North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Maine and Ohio, as well as House races in Iowa and Pennsylvania. The group will also deploy volunteers to speak with voters about the importance of caregiving affordability. While Republicans have begun to recognize child care as an important workforce issue, the group believes Democratic proposals for universal pre-K and expanded subsidies are more ambitious and impactful.

  • The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy was created a decade ago.
  • The group is launching its $50 million campaign ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The players

Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy

An advocacy group aiming to make child and elder care affordability a central issue in political campaigns.

Sondra Goldschein

The executive director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy and its political action committee.

Joe Biden

The former president who successfully pushed Congress to provide $39 billion in pandemic aid for child care in 2021, though his proposal for universal pre-K and expanded subsidies narrowly failed.

Donald Trump

The former president who said increasing foreign tariffs would 'take care' of the expense of child care, though this plan has not materialized.

National Republican Congressional Committee

The campaign arm of House Republicans, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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What they’re saying

“When child care can cost more than your rent or a mortgage, or you have to sacrifice a paycheck in order to be able to take care of a loved one, that can motivate how people vote.”

— Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director, Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy

What’s next

The advocacy group plans to continue its $50 million campaign to support Democratic candidates focused on child and elder care affordability in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.

The takeaway

The high costs of child care have become a major financial burden for many American families, and this advocacy group's $50 million campaign signals that caregiving affordability will be a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections as candidates seek to address this growing concern.