Democrats launch Labor Day ad blitz blaming GOP for pricey burgers and beer
WASHINGTON, DC — As Americans fire up the grill for Labor Day weekend, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is lighting up screens with digital ads blaming House Republicans for driving up the cost of backyard staples like burgers and beer.
The DCCC unveiled a national ad campaign Thursday targeting what it calls the “House Republican Price Hike,” pointing to rising grocery costs as families prepare for the holiday. The five-figure digital buy is airing across YouTube and Instagram, zeroing in on young men between the ages of 18 and 44 in all 35 congressional districts the DCCC considers competitive in the upcoming election.
“Labor Day is supposed to be a time to celebrate the contributions of the American worker and to relax with neighbors and families over a grill enjoying burgers and beer. But House Republicans are ruining everyone’s cookouts by making the trip to the grocery store more expensive. The DCCC is going to make sure voters know House Republicans are responsible,” said DCCC spokesman Viet Shelton, of Seattle, Washington.
The ads highlight inflation hitting cookout essentials — from ground beef to buns to beverages — and claim the GOP’s “Big, Ugly Law” is pushing prices even higher. The DCCC contends the Republican-backed legislation prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy while forcing everyday Americans to pay more at the store, at the doctor’s office, and at home.
A companion website, HouseRepublicanPriceHike.com, allows users to estimate how much more they’re paying for typical cookout items and share the results on social media.
One of the ads shows an image of a nearly $20 cheeseburger, urging viewers to “blame House Republicans” for sticker shock at the checkout line. The DCCC said its message is timed to coincide with one of the most food-focused holidays of the year, when families are likely to feel the pinch of grocery inflation most acutely.
The campaign underscores Democrats’ strategy to shift public frustration over rising costs onto House Republicans as control of Congress hangs in the balance heading into 2026.
Shelton is also behind ads running against Republicans in many states across the nation.