Growing numbers of Americans are realizing President Trump is a raging bull in a china shop, recklessly destroying the effectiveness of federal agencies, making America less affordable, increasing unemployment, endangering our health and corrupting our justice system.

A November Associated Press poll found only 33 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s management of government, down from 43 percent in March. While other polls show Trump with an approval ratings in the 40s, none show he gets the approval of most Americans.

Public support for Trump will likely fall lower as the affordability crisis worsens due to his tariffs and other harmful policies, and as more is revealed about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This could enable Democrats to win control of the House and Senate in 2026 elections.

To win, Democrats should unite behind popular policies that will repair the immense damage Trump has caused and build a better future for Americans.

Trump was reelected because he promised to reduce unauthorized immigration, slow inflation, make health care more affordable and do much more to improve our lives. Other than arresting and deporting immigrants — often without due process of law — he has failed to deliver.

Instead, Trump has dedicated himself to investigating and prosecuting his enemies and to enriching his family. He has monetized the presidency to nearly double the net worth of his family to an estimated $10 billion since he was reelected, according to Forbes magazine.

In November elections, voters fed up with Trump elected Democrats with a broad range of views. New York City will get a democratic socialist mayor, but far more Democratic moderates were elected — including as governors and state legislators in New Jersey and Virginia, and as local officials in many places.

Although Democrats don’t agree on everything, we share many beliefs. Congressional candidates next year should embrace the following positions on domestic issues to take advantage of voter opposition to Trump’s failures and offer a better way forward.

For the sake of affordability, they should reach reciprocal tariff reductions with other nations to lower prices on imports and expand markets for U.S. exports, creating jobs. Trump imposed these tariffs on most nations without congressional approval, and they are making life in the U.S. less affordable.

Democrats should promise to reform the immigration system to allow more people to enter the U.S. legally and create a pathway to citizenship. Halt roundups of immigrants whose only crime is being in the U.S. without authorization. Mass deportations are creating worker shortages that are worsening the affordability crisis by raising prices for food, housing and other essentials.

They should restore more than $24 billion in funds Trump cut from clean energy projects, along with a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of electric vehicles and a 30 percent tax credit for homeowners who buy solar energy panels. This would make energy more affordable and create jobs, in addition to fighting climate change.

To address America’s shortage of an estimated 4 million to 7 million affordable apartments and houses, they should launch a partnership between federal, state and local governments and the housing construction industry to increase the supply of affordable housing.

To fulfill our responsibility to educate our children, they should reverse Trump’s dismantling of the Education Department and restore the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs he has eliminated from the department.

They should reform the tax system so that wealthy individuals and corporations pay their fair share. They should also rescind Internal Revenue Service budget cuts to enable the agency to crack down on wealthy tax cheats.

Democrats must end Trump’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion, which is spreading bigotry and blocking the advancement of people who are not straight white men. America benefits when all people can reach their full potential and when the achievements of all Americans are celebrated.

On health Care, Democrats should promise to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of this year, to prevent 22 million Americans from seeing their health insurance premiums more than double. They should also restore medical research funding that Trump has cut.

They should also promise to end Trump’s weaponization of the Justice Department and other federal agencies against the president’s enemies. They should restore about $500 million in budget cuts Trump has proposed for the FBI and restore the bureau’s role in preventing terrorism and fighting major crimes, rather than patrolling cities to roundup unauthorized immigrants.

Democrats should also halt Trump’s deployment of the military and National Guard troops in U.S. cities and increase funding for local police departments and community initiatives to prevent crime.

The above positions would benefit the Democratic Party’s candidates by attracting voters and more importantly would benefit America.

With the right message and messengers, Democrats can show it is vitally important that they win majorities in the House and Senate next year to act as a check and balance on Trump’s destructive presidency.

A. Scott Bolden* is an attorney, NewsNation contributor, former chair of the Washington, D.C. Democratic Party and a former New York state prosecutor. *

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