Midterm candidates split over tax bill and Medicaid cuts

President Donald Trump defended the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during a midterm rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday. He called the legislation the largest tax cut in American history, noting that his administration signed it into law in July 2025.

The bill reduced taxes for many Americans while cutting funding for several social service programs. Republican candidates have promoted the law throughout the 2026 election cycle, arguing it helps everyday families. Rep. Derrick Van Order of Wisconsin told delegates at the GOP convention in September that many voters are unaware that the law eliminates taxes on tips and overtime pay.

Democratic opponents focus on the law’s benefits for wealthy earners. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, proposed repealing tax breaks for the top 1% of income earners. In an August interview, he suggested using that $1 trillion to provide a cost-of-living tax adjustment for the middle class.

Election experts say the tax cuts have not yet shifted voter sentiment due to persistent high costs for basic goods. Todd Belt, a professor at George Washington University, stated that affordability remains the top concern for voters. He noted that rising prices for gasoline, groceries, health care, and child care outweigh any tax relief for many households.

The law also changed Medicaid policies, a shift affecting voters who depend on the program. Amber Mader, a disabled voter in Arkansas, said the cuts have disrupted the home health nursing and transportation services she uses. She relies on Medicaid and Social Security Disability and said the changes make her scrutinize candidates more closely.

Mader, who is paralyzed, described the reduction in benefits as a daily difficulty. She stated that her group will not see a single cent from the tax cuts while dealing with disruptions to basic services. Tax experts agree that the bill’s long-term effects are becoming clearer. Elena Patel, co-director of the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center, said early changes helped middle and lower-class families, but the law increasingly benefits high-income taxpayers over time.

Patel noted that tax policy is difficult to use for immediate affordability issues. She observed that the impact of the bill will become more apparent as the election cycle continues. For now, candidates continue to debate the bill’s provisions in town halls and advertisements across the country.