Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argues that Democrats are missing a crucial opportunity to link two of the most pressing voter concerns: corruption and the cost of living. In a recent NewsNation town hall, he described them as “heads and tails of the same coin,” pointing to the contrast between a $450 million gift to President Trump and the price of gas.
“The president of the United States gets a $450 million gift from Qatar — Air Force One — and you’re getting $4.50 a gallon of gas,” Emanuel said, illustrating the disconnect that he believes Democrats should exploit.
Emanuel, who served in the Obama administration and later as mayor of Chicago, gave Democrats a “B+” for their messaging so far. But he insists they can do more to weave together affordability and ethics, especially with Republicans providing “an endless amount of material.”
Recent polling underscores the potency of these issues. A Fox News survey found that 60 percent of voters are “extremely concerned” about government corruption, while 58 percent say the same about inflation. These concerns come as the GOP controls both the White House and Congress, making the midterms a natural referendum on the party in power.
Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill and NewsNation, gives Democrats a 77 percent chance of winning the House and a 56 percent chance of taking the Senate. However, Emanuel cautions against assuming a midterm win will carry over to 2028. “The Republicans are going to lose. Democrats aren’t going to win,” he said, emphasizing that how Democrats comport themselves in the next few years will determine their future success.
To that end, Emanuel is urging Democrats to push for ethics reform as a central pillar of their agenda. He proposes banning lawmakers from trading stocks and betting on prediction markets, as well as setting a mandatory retirement age of 75. “If all you do is a Democratic version of food fighting, or all you do is investigations with no action … you won’t have delivered change,” he warned.
Voter appetite for change is clear. An AP-NORC poll shows about half of voters want “substantial change,” while roughly 3 in 10 want “complete and total upheaval.” Yet enthusiasm for Democrats remains lukewarm, with only about 4 in 10 voters viewing the party favorably.
Emanuel’s comments come as Democrats quietly prepare for a potential return to power, and as younger voters shift back to the party on affordability concerns. Meanwhile, corruption continues to top voter concerns, reinforcing the stakes for Democrats.
Emanuel is currently favored on Kalshi to be the first Democrat to announce a 2028 presidential run, underscoring his continued influence in party circles.
