The Democrats’ historic midterm elections will hand them control of Congress, but keeping it could depend on whether they can make housing more affordable, according to leading strategists in both parties.
“The American Dream Has an Address” veteran Democratic strategist Donna Brazil he spoke to a room of real estate professionals in New Orleans on Saturday.
The one talking next to you a conservative political strategist Shermichael Singleton too The National Association of Realtors®’ NAR NXT ConferenceBrazil warned that the Democrats’ electoral victories were not an unconditional endorsement of their policies, but a demand for relief from the rising cost of living.
Singleton agreed, arguing that Republicans have learned that lesson the hard way.
“Our constituents felt that we had fundamentally failed,” he said, citing rising fuel and food costs as well as the inability of young Americans to buy homes as examples of the administration’s unfulfilled promises of affordability.
Brazil warned that Democrats could face the same bill in 2028 if they don’t act.
“If you don’t help build more houses and do the work of the American people, they’re going to kick our (breather) in two years,” he said.
Housing affordability becomes an electoral calculus
The affordability crisis that helped propel Democrats to victory on Tuesday was a liability for his party just two years ago — a fact Brazile said is a warning for both parties heading into 2028.
“Affordability has been on the minds of the American people for two years now,” Brazile acknowledged. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris He failed to grasp the depth of voters’ frustration ahead of the 2024 elections.
And today, housing offers perhaps the clearest illustration yet of why this frustration persists.
Mortgage rates have risen from about 3% in 2021 to about 8% by the end of 2023, fueling growth in home prices during the pandemic. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of Realtors, was explained during a separate presentation on Saturday.
And while borrowing costs have since come down, home prices continue to rise. In the third quarter of 2026, prices increased in about 78% of US metropolitan markets. NAR’s latest quarterly report.
Existing homeowners have benefited from this appreciation, with Yun estimating that the typical owner gained about $200,000 in housing wealth before the pandemic. Potential buyers, however, face a significantly higher cost of entry.
The consequences are particularly severe for young Americans. First-time buyers now account for just 22% of home purchases, while their average age has reached 40, a record high from last year. NAR’s newly released 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
“Perhaps the outcome of the election was partly a reflection of that fact,” Yun said, pointing to young Americans struggling to get into the housing market.
For Singleton, 36, the frustration is personal.
“You do everything right. You get a college degree. You get a master’s degree. You start a family. You don’t get anything,” he said.
Singleton bought her first home at age 28, but said many of her friends now approaching or entering their 40s still can’t afford one.
With Millennials and Gen Z now making up a significant portion of the electorate, Singleton argued that housing access could be a more decisive factor in how young Americans vote.
A bipartisan opening — but can Washington deliver?
Amid deep political divisions, Brazil and Singleton’s agreement on the urgency of the housing crisis drew attention. There is already a strong precedent for cooperation on this issue.
The 21st Century ROAD Act, which took effect in July, passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32, receiving strong bipartisan support. The legislation aims to reduce regulatory barriers, expand financing opportunities and increase supply by supporting new approaches to construction.
But the transition was only the first step. Many provisions still require implementation or funding, and their impact on the market may take years to materialize.
Singleton sees opportunities to build on that foundation by addressing obstacles closer to home, including local permitting delays, construction costs and Canadian lumber tariffs.
“One of the things I often hear from them is that the time it takes to get something approved is very expensive,” he said, referring to conversations with developers.
He also proposed investing in training young Americans as electricians, plumbers and other skilled tradesmen to help build the millions of homes the country needs.
is an idea reflected by Scott Normandirector general Texas Builders Association, who identified workforce development as a bipartisan priority in an exclusive interview with Realtor.com following a Democratic sweep of state elected offices.
“The more people we can bring to work, the lower the labor costs,” Norman said.
Brazile, meanwhile, said the Democrats’ affordability agenda, emphasizing cutting red tape and expanding supply, ranks housing alongside grocery, energy and family spending.
“Compatibility, affordability, affordability. That’s not a slogan Democrats can use again unless they do something about it,” he said.
But fulfilling those promises will require something neither side has consistently demonstrated in recent years: a willingness to compromise.
“We have the money, but we need the will,” Brazil said.
In an emotional moment during the hour-long session, Brazil recalled working with the Republican President George W. Bush to receive federal aid after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005.
Despite the political differences, Brazile said he is working with the administration to secure funding for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure and a new veterans medical center.
“It’s bipartisanship. It’s a compromise. It’s what it looks like,” he said.
His final message to the real estate agents in attendance was to convey that same commitment to the newly elected legislators who will shape housing policy.
“You know the stories because you live it every day,” she said, urging agents to share the experiences of families struggling to afford a home.
And as a new Congress prepares to take office, Brazile argued that firsthand knowledge can help translate the promise of affordability into policies that deliver.
