Democrats Think They Can Finally Win on Social Security

“Republicans went ahead and grabbed the third rail of politics,” a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee executive said.

A protester displays a sign supporting Medicare and Social Security.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

House Democratic strategists say they plan to turn Social Security into a major issue during next year’s midterm election, making the entitlement program — and accusations that Republicans have undercut it — a regular part of their message to voters.

And this time, they say they really mean it.

Almost every election cycle, Democrats talk a big game about tapping into Social Security’s broad popularity, only for the issue to ultimately fail to garner nationwide attention among voters.