2026-09-22T14:44:21-04:00 / 福克斯新闻频道
两党都在围绕民生负担展开竞选活动，但约翰·肯尼迪参议员承认，双方都没有连贯的计划
——查德·珀格拉姆 福克斯新闻
发布于2026年9月22日美国东部时间下午2:44
民主党以民生负担为竞选主轴，同时紧盯特朗普相关调查，备战2026年中期选举
福克斯新闻首席国会通讯员查德·珀格拉姆在《特别报道》栏目中报道了民主党在2026年中期选举前的竞选信息策略，以及围绕人工智能监管的辩论。
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加拿大社会学家马歇尔·麦克卢汉曾有一句名言：“媒介即讯息。”
但如果讯息本身就是“媒介”？或者用当下的通俗说法，就是“平平无奇”？
两党都在精心策划对选民的发言，以期说服他们在11月的选举中支持本党。
“讯息至关重要，”众议院多数党党鞭、明尼苏达州共和党众议员汤姆·埃默在福克斯新闻节目中表示，“我们取得了诸多成就：不对加班费征税、不对小费征税、提高了儿童税收抵免，这样的例子不胜枚举。”
【独家报道：共和党人面临艰难中期选举形势，万斯在国会山举行秘密闭门会议】
2025年9月30日，众议院多数党党鞭汤姆·埃默（明尼苏达州共和党）在华盛顿国会山接受电视采访。（格雷姆·斯隆/彭博社 via 盖蒂图片社）
这些都是去年夏季由共和党主导的国会通过的“宏伟法案”的遗留成果。如今共和党正忙着提醒选民他们的政绩。
“去年这是很棒的宣传点，但在我看来，我们错过了谈论去年我们所做的好事的机会，”北达科他州共和党参议员凯文·克拉默坦言。
但克拉默表示，选民想知道你最近为他们做了什么。而这正是共和党可能陷入困境的地方。
“人们的后视镜越来越短了，”克拉默说，“今天你能为我做什么，比你一年前试图做的事对他们来说更重要。”
这就是为什么一些共和党人对他们的选举前景直言不讳。
“这次中期选举将会是一场他妈的大屠杀，”即将退休的南卡罗来纳州共和党众议员南希·梅斯愤怒地说道，“我认为两党都知道，现在所有人都在指责共和党。”
民主党则围绕民生负担展开竞选活动。食品杂货和燃油价格是选民最关心的议题。
“对美国人来说，最重要的是钱包问题，”弗吉尼亚州民主党参议员蒂姆·凯恩表示，“他们认为关税政策是在惩罚我们的盟友，毫无意义地让他们的钱包受损。”
但民主党也在打出承诺牌。
“未来两年的首要任务将是追究唐纳德·特朗普的责任，”科罗拉多州民主党众议院候选人梅拉特·基罗斯说。
“我们将追究本届政府腐败行为的责任，”众议院民主党核心小组主席、加利福尼亚州民主党众议员皮特·阿吉拉尔警告道。
“必要时我们将发出传票，”华盛顿州民主党众议员普拉米拉·贾亚帕尔宣称。
目前尚不清楚针对总统的调查威胁是否会削弱民主党今年秋季的竞选主调。
“当你谈论（调查）时，”笔者询问众议院少数党领袖、纽约州民主党众议员哈基姆·杰弗里斯，“这会不会在任何方面影响你们关于民生成本的竞选讯息？”
“不会，因为腐败给美国人民带来了代价，”杰弗里斯回答道，“这就是为什么美国人民要求采取行动，要求我们追究那些骗子的责任。”
【福克斯新闻民调：受生活成本挤压，沮丧选民转向民主党】
2026年7月13日，众议院少数党领袖哈基姆·杰弗里斯（纽约州民主党）在华盛顿国会山的新闻发布会上发言。（安娜·蒙尼/盖蒂图片社）
尽管如此，一名民主党人士表示，坚持民生议题对本党在政治上更有利。
“有很多关于腐败的问题，”佛蒙特州民主党参议员彼得·韦尔奇说，“但我认为最关键的，是聚焦民生负担。”
就在共和党试图提醒选民“宏伟法案”的政绩时，另一位知名共和党参议员表示，他所在的政党缺乏连贯的竞选讯息。
“我们很幸运，因为民主党也没有计划，”路易斯安那州共和党参议员约翰·肯尼迪说，“双方的策略都是‘对方比我更差劲’。”
因此，一些共和党人重新拾起了两年前在投票站为他们奏效的关键议题。
“我们将讲述边境关闭的故事，我的意思是，特朗普总统打造了我国历史上最安全的边境，”阿拉巴马州共和党参议员凯蒂·布里特辩称。
但两党都在审视一个新近浮现的议题：人工智能。
“在接下来的30天里，随着选举临近，民主党有机会将人工智能直接摆在选民面前，”康涅狄格州民主党参议员克里斯·墨菲在MS NOW节目中表示。
杰弗里斯暗示，共和党无视了人工智能代理失控的即时担忧。
“这是一件严肃的事，需要国会立即采取行动，而共和党正在放弃他们的责任，”杰弗里斯说，“民主党不会这么做。”
俄亥俄州共和党参议员乔恩·赫斯特德今年秋季在这个“七叶树州”（俄亥俄州别称）面临一场竞争激烈的选举。上周他试图将对人工智能的些许担忧与“民生负担”问题结合起来。
众议院以417票对3票通过了《纳税人保护法案》。该法案将抵消消费者如果居住在数据中心附近有时不得不承担的高额公用事业成本。该法案将相关账单转嫁给运营数据中心的大型科技公司。因此，赫斯特德以此为由，主张保护消费者免受额外现金支出的影响。
“如果你造成了成本，你就应该承担这些成本，”赫斯特德说。
【奥巴马私下警告“危险”的人工智能，敦促民主党将该议题作为议程核心】
德克萨斯州的数据中心开发热潮正愈演愈烈，北德克萨斯州在一项新的全球数据中心行业领先市场排名中位居榜首。（安田一洋/特约记者/法新社 via 盖蒂图片社）
但能源与自然资源委员会资深民主党议员、新墨西哥州参议员马丁·海因里希对此表示反对。
“仅仅告诉各州考虑让数据中心为电网升级付费，而不是依靠自愿承诺或建议，这还不够，”海因里希说，“国会需要通过真正具备约束力的立法。”
这位新墨西哥州民主党议员随后当场提出反对，否决了赫斯特德的请求。不过，共和党人实际上认为海因里希的这一举措可能会帮助赫斯特德，助力共和党，并让民主党搬起石头砸自己的脚。换句话说，民主党人的阻挠可能会帮助共和党证明：共和党站在纳税人一边，而另一方却在从中作梗。尤其是在众议院以压倒性多数通过该法案的情况下。
“现在两党之间出现了分歧：共和党在为纳税人发声，民主党没有，”克拉默说。
据福克斯新闻获悉，参议院可能会在议员离国会山参加中期选举前，再次就这项与数据中心相关的法案进行表决。另一个当场一致同意的请求将只需几分钟就能再次通过或否决该法案。
但如果进行常规辩论并附带多轮程序性投票，可能需要耗时一周——即便该法案获得了支持。话虽如此，两党中的一些议员并不介意进行唱名投票，记录下他们对该议题的支持态度。或者说，共和党人希望迫使民主党公开投票反对这项法案。
这意味着参议院很可能在中期选举前离境，而无法解决“民生负担”问题。共和党人可以稍微指责一下民主党——特别是在《纳税人保护法案》这件事上。但民主党并非多数党。他们可以指责共和党没有解决这些钱包相关的担忧。
这就是11月前的“竞选讯息”。正如肯尼迪所言，双方的讯息可能都无法打动选民。或者，就像如今人们常说的那样，“平平无奇”。
毕竟，这就是中期选举。
查德·珀格拉姆目前担任福克斯新闻频道（FNC）首席国会通讯员。他于2007年9月加入该媒体，总部位于华盛顿特区。
Reporter’s Notebook: Congress struggles to find a message that resonates with voters ahead of midterms
2026-09-22T14:44:21-04:00 / Fox News
Both parties are campaigning on affordability, but Sen John Kennedy admits that neither side has a coherent plan
By Chad Pergram Fox News
Published September 22, 2026 2:44pm EDT
Democrats run on affordability, Trump oversight ahead of 2026 midterm elections
Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on Democrats’ messaging ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and the debate over artificial intelligence regulation on ‘Special Report.’
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7 min
Canadian sociologist Marshall McLuhan famously declared that “the medium is the message.”
But what if the message is just “medium?” Or, perhaps in today’s vernacular, “mid.”
Both sides are trying to curate what they say to voters to coax them to vote for their party in November.
“The message matters,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said on Fox. “We have accomplished a ton. No taxes on overtime. No taxes on tips. We raised the childcare tax credit. The list goes on and on.”
EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE VANCE’S INTIMATE CAPITOL HILL HUDDLE AS REPUBLICANS CONFRONT TOUGH MIDTERM TERRAIN
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., during a television interview at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Sept. 30, 2025.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Those are all vestiges of the “big, beautiful bill,” which the Republican-led Congress passed last summer. Now Republicans are scrambling to remind voters what they did.
“It was a great message last year, and we missed the opportunity, in my view, to talk about the good things we did last year,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., conceded.
But Cramer says voters want to know what you’ve done for them lately. And that’s where the GOP could struggle.
“People’s rearview mirror is getting shorter and shorter all the time,” said Cramer. “What you are going to do for me today is more important to them than what you tried to do a year ago.”
That’s why some Republicans are frank about their prospects at the polls.
“This midterm is going to be a f—ing bloodbath,” fumed Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who is retiring. “I think that both parties know everyone’s putting blame on the Republicans right now.”
Democrats are campaigning on affordability. The cost of groceries and fuel are top of mind.
“What’s most important to Americans are pocketbook issues,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. “And they see the tariff strategy as punishing our allies and punishing their pocketbooks for no purpose.”
But Democrats are also stumping on a promise.
“The top priority in these next two years is going to be holding Donald Trump accountable,” said Colorado Democratic House nominee Melat Kiros.
“We’ll hold this administration accountable for its corruption,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., warned.
“We will subpoena them if we need to,” declared Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.
It’s unclear if threats of presidential probes could dilute the Democrats’ directive this fall.
“When you talk about (investigations),” yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., “Does that step on your message in any way about costs?”
“No, because there’s a cost to the American people around corruption,” answered Jeffries. “Which is why the American people are demanding that action be taken and that we hold the crooks accountable.”
FOX NEWS POLL: SQUEEZED BY COSTS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., spoke during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol July 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Still, one Democrat says the party is better politically if it sticks to bread and butter issues.
“There are a lot of corruption questions,” said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. “But I think the gold ring, the brass ring, is focusing on affordability.”
While Republicans try to remind voters about the “big, beautiful bill,” another prominent GOP senator says his party lacks a coherent message.
“We’re lucky because the Democrats don’t have a plan either,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. “Here’s the strategy for both sides. ‘The other guys are worse than me.’”
So, some Republicans are reverting to a wedge issue that worked for them at the ballot box two years ago.
“We’re going to tell the story about the closed border. I mean, President Trump has the most secure border in our history,” argued Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala.
But both parties are evaluating a late-emerging issue: artificial intelligence.
“In the next 30 days, as we go into this election, Democrats have an opportunity to basically put AI on the ballot,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said on MS NOW.
Jeffries suggested Republicans are dismissing immediate concerns about AI agents going rogue.
“This is a serious thing. It requires urgent congressional action and Republicans are abandoning their responsibility,” said Jeffries. “Democrats will not do that.”
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, faces a competitive race this fall in the Buckeye State. He tried to blend a sliver of concerns over AI with the “affordability” question last week.
The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, 417-3. The bill defrays the high utility costs consumers are sometimes forced to pay if they live near data centers. The legislation diverts those bills to Big Tech firms that run the data centers. So, Husted made the case to protect consumers from shelling out extra cash.
“If you create the cost, you should pay the cost,” said Husted.
OBAMA PRIVATELY SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘DANGEROUS’ AI, URGES DEMOCRATS TO PUT ISSUE AT CENTER OF AGENDA
Data center development is surging across Texas, with North Texas taking the top spot in a new global ranking of the industry’s leading markets.(Yasuyoshi Chiba/Contributor/AFP/Getty Images)
But Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, stood in the way.
“It’s not enough for us to tell states to consider making data centers pay for grid updates rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states,” said Heinrich. “Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth.”
The New Mexico Democrat then objected, blocking Husted’s entreaty on the spot. However, Republicans actually think the move by Heinrich could boost Husted, help Republicans and backfire on Democrats. In other words, a Democratic blockade might assist the GOP make the point that they’re for affordability and the other party is standing in the way. Especially on a bill that passed with such overwhelming support in the House.
“Now there’s a differentiation between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans are looking out for ratepayers. Democrats are not,” said Cramer.
Fox is told it’s possible the Senate could try again on the data center-related measure before senators leave the Capitol for the midterms. Another on-the-spot, unanimous consent request would take a matter of minutes to either pass or block the bill (again).
But a customary debate accompanied by multiple procedural votes likely consumes a week — even if there’s support for the plan. That said, some lawmakers from both sides wouldn’t mind a roll call vote where they’re documented as supporting the issue. Or a vote where Republicans dare Democrats to go on the record opposing it.
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What that means is that the Senate likely leaves town for the midterms without addressing “affordability.” Republicans can blame Democrats — a little. Specifically on the Ratepayer Protection Act. But Democrats aren’t in the majority. They can upbraid Republicans for not addressing some of those pocket book concerns.
That’s the “message” ahead of November. As Kennedy suggested, it might fall flat on both sides. Or, as is sometimes said these days, “mid.”
After all, it is the midterms.
Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
