ASBN says affordability dominated 2026 midterms

The American Sustainable Business Network said voters in the Nov. 3 midterms sent a clear message on costs, from insurance and electricity to grid prices tied to new demand. The group is urging incoming state and federal leaders to work with businesses to lower expenses heading into 2027.

Why it matters: - ASBN says the election underscored a broad affordability squeeze hitting both households and small businesses. - The group argues incoming leaders face pressure to address insurance, energy and grid costs that shape day-to-day business planning. - ASBN says lower costs will be a test of whether new officials can support workers, Main Street employers and economic stability.

What happened: - ASBN issued a statement Nov. 4 on the results of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. - Executive Director Camilla Taylor said voters in red states and blue states sent the same message: the cost of living and the cost of doing business are too high. - Taylor said about nine in 10 voters told exit pollsters that the cost of living was a crucial or major factor in their vote. - ASBN President and Co-Founder David Levine said members will keep pressing those concerns in Congress and statehouses next year.

The details: - Taylor pointed to California’s insurance market, where coverage is disappearing or doubling in price, and said business leaders want a new insurance commissioner focused on affordability and resilience. - Taylor cited Michigan and Ohio, where small business owners say electricity bills have become difficult to budget around. - ASBN said its research in Pennsylvania found ratepayers are absorbing costs tied to new data center demand on the grid. - Taylor said businesses that employ nearly 50% of U.S. workers and represent 99% of U.S. businesses are ready to work with incoming officials. - Taylor said leaders in January should focus on insurance markets that reward resilience, energy costs businesses can budget around and a fair accounting of who pays for new grid demand.

Between the lines: - ASBN is framing affordability as both an economic issue and an election message, not just a business complaint. - The group is also linking cost concerns to representation, saying voters signaled that leaders who reflect their communities are better positioned to understand working families and small businesses. - Taylor said a record number of women ran for governor and the U.S. House this year, and voters made history in Georgia and New Mexico. - ASBN cast the election outcome as a mandate for stability and practical cost control rather than partisan policy fights.

What's next: - ASBN plans to work with incoming Congress members and state officials on lower costs and a more resilient economy. - The group said member business owners from California, Michigan and Ohio are available for interviews. - ASBN directed interview requests to Anayana White at anayana@asbnetwork.org. - ASBN shared social links for LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X.

The bottom line: - ASBN says the 2026 midterms were a clear affordability referendum, and it wants the next wave of leaders to treat business costs as a core governing issue.