Vice President JD Vance said that Republicans need to direct their focus to the "home front" and work to make life more affordable for Americans. (Gregory Bull/The Associated Press)
In October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the consumer price index (CPI), used to assess how much goods like groceries or rent cost, increased 0.3% from August to September. Additionally, it increased to 3% on a year-over-year basis from 2.9% in August, marking the highest headline CPI reading since January when it also reached 3%.
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Meanwhile, Republicans lost several high-profile races Tuesday — including gubernatorial races where former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor's race over Republican challenger Winsome Earle-Sears, and New Jersey Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey's governor's race over Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
Likewise, New York City elected democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of the city, beating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
In all races, affordability and the economy were top priorities for voters, with Mamdani backing policies including rent freezes and city-run grocery stores to cut food prices.
For example, Fox News Voter Poll data found that New Jersey voters reported the state's high taxes and the economy ranked as their top two issues. Additionally, the poll data found that half of voters in Virginia said that the economy was their top priority.
Likewise, New York City voters ranked affordability at their top concerns, the Fox News Voter Poll data found.
Socialist Zohran Mamdani won his New York City mayoral race, beating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
According to President Donald Trump, the government shutdown that started Oct. 1 due to a lapse in funding was a culprit for GOP losses in Tuesday's races.
"I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor," Trump said Wednesday during a breakfast meeting with Senate Republicans. "Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor."
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Fox News’ Eric Revell, Paul Steinhauser and Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-delivers-post-election-reality-check-contends-gop-must-make-life-affordable-get-walloped-2026