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New York Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Trump Is Reaching Into Parents' Lives. Can Democrats Capitalize?
The prices of strollers and car seats are skyrocketing as companies race to adjust to President Trump's tariff policies. Federal support for a major campaign to promote safe infant sleep habits appears to have been cut. Measles outbreaks are terrifying parents of young children, even as the nation's health secretary undermines vaccines. The Trump administration's policies are reaching ever deeper into the lives of American families, transforming routine and apolitical parts of some parents' days — trips to the pediatrician, conversations at swim classes, chatter on online baby gear forums — into scenes of anxiety and anger. For a Democratic Party still searching for its strongest message amid the upheavals of the second Trump term, the politics of parenting offer a telling test case: Can Democrats persuade voters that this White House is making their lives harder? 'I've never heard this level of fear,' said former Representative Colin Allred, a Texas Democrat mulling a second Senate bid in his state, which has a significant measles outbreak. He said his nonpolitical friends — people who 'just want to send their kids to school and watch the Cowboys play' — were 'calling me and asking, like, 'What the hell is going on?' There are no greater motivators in politics than anger and fear. But in recent years, Republicans have been far more successful than Democrats at tapping into parents' raw emotions. In 2021, they rode waves of concern about pandemic-era education to victory in the Virginia governor's race. Last year, Democrats were caught off guard as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leader of the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement and now the health secretary, helped Mr. Trump win over parents worried about food additives and swayed by false information on vaccines. And while Joseph R. Biden Jr. won parents with children under the age of 18 in 2020, Mr. Trump captured that demographic in November, exit polls showed. Many Republicans have declared that they are the 'party of parents.' So far, the Democratic response has been scattershot, and there is little evidence of an organized anti-MAHA movement. But interviews with nearly 40 parents, politicians and pediatricians suggest that there is an opening for candidates who can channel parents' fury and fears — if they can connect with those voters. Trinity Chisholm, 23, a nursing student and a Democrat who was at the library last week with her 1-year-old in Chester, Va., outside Richmond, said that she was worried about measles outbreaks — and that the administration's vaccine approach was 'not based in science.' 'It just feels like it's preying on parents' insecurities and fears,' she said. State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes of Georgia, a Democrat who has a baby, said that in Facebook parent groups, 'people are legitimately freaking out.' When 'you are shutting down safe-to-sleep campaigns, and you are undermining the trust in our vaccination programs, this is a cause for grave concern,' she said. 'These are issues that will 100 percent motivate people.' 'This is a slippery slope' As the nation confronts one of the worst measles outbreaks in a generation, Representative Brittany Pettersen, a Colorado Democrat who gave birth in January, is making the same calculations as many other parents of infants: how to protect babies who are too young for a measles vaccine. 'I'm hopeful that parents will start mobilizing, and moms are going to start mobilizing, because it's very scary,' she said. She suggested it was 'unfathomable' that someone like Mr. Kennedy could be guiding public health policy. Certainly, the large outbreak in the Southwest began in a Mennonite community, where there has long been skepticism of the medical system. And Mr. Kennedy, who has spent years spreading doubts about vaccines, has said recently that inoculations are the best way to avoid spreading measles. But he has also downplayed the seriousness of measles infections, promoted unproven treatments that may be making children more sick and taken many other actions that experts see as dangerously damaging to public confidence in vaccines, like encouraging parents to 'do your own research' before vaccinating their infants. As six of her seven children romped around a playground in Warrington, Pa., Katrina Britton, 39, who does not inoculate her kids, said that recommendation resonated. 'Vaccinations should definitely be a personal choice that every parent is educated about,' she said, praising Mr. Kennedy's efforts to curtail food dyes and seed oils and to encourage parents to make their own determinations on vaccinations. To many in the scientific and medical communities as well as his Democratic critics, Mr. Kennedy is sowing doubt about lifesaving preventative medicine. 'The culpability is on the president who nominated R.F.K. Jr., it's on R.F.K. Jr. himself, and it is on every single senator who voted to confirm,' said Representative Kim Schrier, a Washington Democrat and a pediatrician, calling Mr. Kennedy 'anti-science' and 'anti-vaccine.' Mr. Kennedy, who has promoted debunked claims about ties between vaccines and autism, has also stoked privacy concerns for some parents. 'That's another terrifying piece,' said Ebony Turner, a lawyer and former Democratic candidate for local office whose son has Down syndrome. Speaking from her office in Mansfield, Texas, she added, 'This is a slippery slope.' Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement that 'Secretary Kennedy is not anti-vaccine — he is pro-safety, pro-transparency and pro-accountability.' 'Claims that Secretary Kennedy is spreading misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence are flat-out false,' he said. 'Secretary Kennedy's leadership is grounded in a relentless commitment to improving the health of our nation — especially for children.' Mr. Kennedy has a devoted following. Wellness influencers and other 'MAHA moms' promote him in a social media ecosystem that Democrats and MAHA critics are struggling to match. 'Democrats are absolutely awful at communication,' said Jessica Knurick, a dietitian with a Ph.D. in nutrition science who said she used her substantial online presence to try to 'break through with accurate information, no matter what side it's coming from politically.' She added, 'In the science and medical space, we have a messaging problem.' In interviews around the country, numerous voters said they had not closely followed Mr. Kennedy's comments. Others saw no contradiction in both supporting Mr. Trump's administration and embracing vaccines — a perspective many doctors welcome as they stress that public health issues should not be political. But voters' ability to hold both views suggests that concerns about the Trump administration's stewardship of public health are not guaranteed to prompt electoral backlash. 'Something that Democrats need to be doing a better job at is how we can elevate issues and highlight individual stories and make it real for people,' Ms. Pettersen said. Some Democrats argue that their efforts to sound alarm bells on public health are beginning to work, with congressional Republicans agonizing over their push to cut Medicaid spending. 'Tell your billionaire friends they can only have one yacht' Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic state senator in Michigan running for U.S. Senate, was at her 4-year-old's swim class recently, talking with a fellow mom who had one child. 'I asked if she was considering having another one, and she said, 'Not if things keep up like this,'' Ms. McMorrow said in an interview, referring to rising child-related costs. 'There's a lot of anxiety for parents.' Mr. Trump's allies hope that parents reach different conclusions. The White House has heard out ideas for persuading Americans to have more children; one proposal is a $5,000 'baby bonus.' Mr. Trump also signed an executive order reaffirming his commitment to lowering the costs of in vitro fertilization. 'President Trump has always prioritized the well-being of our nation's families,' Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said in a statement. He pointed to efforts to review baby formula and said Mr. Trump's economic agenda was aimed at 'rebuilding communities that have been hollowed out by decades of 'free' trade deals so that working-class families can once again thrive.' But Mr. Trump has acknowledged that his tariff policies may have consequences even for kids. 'Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls,' he said recently. To Democrats, it was an outrageous statement, and an opening to cast the administration as out of touch. 'Parents are just supposed to sit here and take parenting advice from President Trump,' said Representative Hillary Scholten, a Michigan Democrat, incredulously. 'When it comes to, you know, the tax code, parents are going to be telling him, 'Tell your billionaire friends they can only have one yacht.'' Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who is expecting a third child in June, has called Mr. Trump's tariffs a 'baby tax' and declared that the administration is 'anti-baby,' given the rising costs of strollers and car seats. He expressed confidence that voters would respond. 'They're going to get it,' he said. 'They're going to understand that: 'Last year, my cousin, you know, had a baby, and things weren't as expensive. And now they are expensive.'' In an interview, Mr. Gallego showed another way that the subject of children could be politically useful: to deflect questions about a presidential campaign. Asked if anything about a 2028 bid might appeal to him, Mr. Gallego, who has been amping up his national profile, replied, 'By that point, I'd have three little babies, and so focusing on being a good dad and a good senator is the only thing that's appealing to me right now.'
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
History in the making? Democrats poised to flip Texas Senate seat for first time in over 3 decades, new poll finds
Texas Senate race 2026 is heating up as Democrat Colin Allred is now seen as a real contender against Republican Ken Paxton, according to a new GOP poll. Allred, a former Congressman and NFL player, could become the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Texas in over 30 years. With Paxton's legal history and rising unpopularity among general voters, this race could flip a long-held red seat blue. As the Republican primary intensifies and big names like Beto O'Rourke consider jumping in, the 2026 Texas Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most important political battles in years. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Could Colin Allred Really Beat Ken Paxton in a Senate Race? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why Is Ken Paxton Polling So Poorly with General Voters? Popular in International Could Texas Finally Elect a Democratic Senator Again? What Could a Democratic Senate Win in Texas Mean for 2026? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs: In a surprising turn of events, Democrats could win the Texas Senate race for the first time in more than three decades, according to an internal Republican poll reviewed by the Houston Chronicle. The poll suggests that Democrat Colin Allred may have a real shot at defeating Republican Ken Paxton in a hypothetical matchup for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John this were to happen in the 2026 midterm elections, Allred would become the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Texas since Robert Krueger briefly held the seat in 1993. The numbers point to a potential political shift in a state that's long been a Republican to a Republican-commissioned poll obtained by the Houston Chronicle, 52% of likely Texas voters said they would support Colin Allred in a matchup against Attorney General Ken Paxton. Only 37% backed Paxton, who has faced multiple legal controversies over the years. The poll was conducted in mid-April and surveyed 1,000 likely voters in even more notable is that the poll was conducted by a firm founded by Brad Parscale, Donald Trump's former 2020 campaign manager—suggesting the results weren't meant to favor Democrats. The survey did not include other Democratic contenders, focusing solely on Allred versus who previously lost to Republican Senator Ted Cruz in November 2024 with 44.6% of the vote compared to Cruz's 53.1%, has said he's seriously considering a run for Cornyn's seat. Before running for Senate, Allred served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 32nd congressional district from 2019 to 2025. A former NFL linebacker, he's built a reputation as a moderate Democrat with crossover Ken Paxton has strong support within his party, he continues to face baggage that might hurt him in a general election. In a separate poll conducted by the same Republican pollster, 605 GOP primary voters were surveyed, and the results showed Paxton leading Cornyn by 17 percentage points in a primary matchup. That suggests Paxton is still popular among Republican base among the broader electorate, Paxton's past seems to be catching up with him. In 2023, he was acquitted by the Texas Senate on 16 articles of impeachment, which included serious charges like corruption, abuse of power, and misuse of official information. These issues may explain his weaker standing in a general election matchup against a Democrat like Republican primary race between Cornyn and Paxton is also heating up. Cornyn, a U.S. Senator since 2002, has gone on the offensive, calling Paxton 'a con man and a fraud.' Paxton, in turn, has accused Cornyn of representing 'the Bush wing of the GOP' and failing to support Donald Trump's policies fully. Paxton is running on a platform that pledges to 'champion President Trump's legislative priorities,' as stated on his campaign been 33 years since Texas last sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. That was Robert Krueger in 1993—and his tenure lasted only a few months. Since then, Republicans have dominated statewide races. But shifting demographics, urban growth, and national political polarization have slowly made some parts of Texas more O'Rourke, another well-known Democrat in Texas, has also hinted he might join the race. During a recent town hall in Denton, he said, 'If it comes to pass that this is what the people of Texas want... then yes, I will.' O'Rourke previously lost the 2022 Texas gubernatorial race to Governor Greg Abbott and also ran a close race against Ted Cruz in of now, the field remains wide open. John Cornyn has not officially declared he won't run again, but he faces stiff opposition within his own party. Allred has yet to confirm his candidacy, but polling shows he might have the best chance of flipping the seat blue—especially if he faces a controversial figure like stakes are high. As of now, the U.S. Senate is made up of 53 Republicans and 47 Senators who caucus with Democrats. Flipping a seat in Texas would be a major win for the Democratic Party and could be key in regaining the Senate majority during the 2026 Democrats gain control, it could severely limit the legislative agenda of a potential Trump second term or any Republican-led administration. Control of the Senate would allow Democrats to influence judicial appointments, confirm or block Cabinet members, and steer federal policy on healthcare, immigration, and Colin Allred leads Ken Paxton by 15 points, says GOP last elected a Democratic Senator in 1993.
