October 16, 2026
Social Security in the Midterms: Democratic Senate Candidates Embrace Scrapping the Cap to Strengthen Social Security
Eight Democratic Senate candidates running for Republican-held seats are campaigning on Social Security, expressing their support for eliminating or raising the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes. If Congress does not take action, all Social Security benefits will be slashed by 22 percent in 2032 – an average cut of about $500 a month.
The trend spans red and blue states. Last month, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Iowa – Josh Turek – called for lifting the cap. Sherrod Brown, Abdul El-Sayed, and Troy Jackson – running for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Michigan, and Maine respectively – have all made eliminating the cap a key part of their campaign platforms. Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in South Carolina, Kansas and Florida – Annie Andrews, Adam Hamilton, and Angie Nixon – have also signaled support for raising the cap, and Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has made ensuring the wealthiest pay their fair share into the system a central part of his campaign.
Currently, the wealthiest Americans stop paying into Social Security after making their first $184,500, but everyone else pays into the system all year.
“Making the wealthy pay their fair share into Social Security is the right policy and good politics,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “Americans care about the future of Social Security and don’t think working Americans should pay a lower percentage of their income into Social Security than billionaires like Elon Musk.”
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