- October 05, 2026
- 16:30
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- October 05, 2026
- 17:45
If there is one word defining election campaigns in 2026, it’s affordability. Rising inflation in the United States and Germany in recent years has meant stretched household budgets to cover everyday necessities like housing, groceries, and energy. From Montana to Michigan and from Saxony-Anhalt to Berlin, affordability has become a powerful driver of voter frustration and a defining political issue in the many state-level campaigns in 2026. Populist movements on both the right and the left have increasingly tapped into these concerns to effectively mobilize voters, and mainstream parties are making cost-of-living a centerpiece of their campaigns. The many issues that have contributed to rising prices are often national or global in nature, from lasting implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine to trade disputes and geopolitical instability in the Middle East. Still, legislators in states and Bundesländer are tapping into this issue beyond the nations’ capitals. Beyond campaign promises, what can state-level legislators actually do to tackle the cost of living crisis? Which tools do they have to ease inflation, strengthen economic resilience, and help prevent future price shocks? How can political leaders communicate effectively with their constituents about complex economic issues? In our next event as part of the State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue from the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany, subnational political leaders from both sides of the Atlantic will come together to discuss exactly these issues in an important election year, when affordability is everywhere. We are excited to welcome Silke Gebel MdL (Alliance 90/The Greens), Member of the Berlin House of Representatives, Delegate Josh Holstein (R), Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Jessica Steiner MdL (CDU), Member of the State Parliament of Saxony, and Delegate Lily Qi (D), Member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
