The 2026 midterms delivered a verdict that transcends party lines, and the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is translating that message into a direct challenge for the next wave of elected officials. With the cost of living dominating voter concerns, the business advocacy group is framing affordability as the primary economic mandate for the new term.
ASBN Executive Director Camilla Taylor calls on incoming leaders of both parties to work with businesses on insurance, energy and grid costs
Voters in red states and blue states sent the same message on Tuesday: The cost of living and the cost of doing business are too high… Business owners have been telling us the same thing all year.”— Camilla Taylor, Executive Director, American Sustainable Business Network
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WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) issued the following statement from Executive Director Camilla Taylor on the results of the Nov. 3 midterm elections:
“Voters in red states and blue states sent the same message on Tuesday: The cost of living and the cost of doing business are too high. About nine in 10 voters told exit pollsters the cost of living was a crucial or major factor in their vote. Business owners have been telling us the same thing all year.
“Business leaders spoke out this fall about California’s insurance market, where coverage is disappearing or doubling in price, and about what they need from the state’s next insurance commissioner. In Michigan and Ohio, small business owners told us their electricity bills have become impossible to budget around. And our research in Pennsylvania found that ratepayers are absorbing costs tied to new data center demand on the grid.
“This election also made history in who ran and who will serve. A record number of women ran for governor and for the U.S. House this year, and voters made history in Georgia and New Mexico. Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the first Black woman to serve as governor of a U.S. state, and Deb Haaland the first Native American woman elected governor. Leaders who reflect the communities they serve are better positioned to understand what everyday costs mean for working families and the small businesses that employ them. The polls told a clear story: equal representation matters to the American people.
“To every leader taking office in January, in Congress and in statehouses, regardless of party: The businesses that employ nearly 50% of workers in the country, that represent 99% of business in the US and keep Main Street running are ready to work with you. Lowering costs will take insurance markets that reward resilience, energy that businesses can budget around, and a fair accounting of who pays for new demand on the grid.
“Opening and running a business is an act of hope. Last night, the American people, across the nation, held the seats of government responsible for the same bravery, empathy and integrity they aspire to every day. The country is hungry for stability, and prosperity. We at American Sustainable Business Network look forward to working with the incoming Congress and state officials to build a better economy.”
ASBN President and Co-Founder David Levine added:
“Our members judge every policy by a practical test: Does it lower costs, protect workers and let them plan for innovation and a more responsible and resilient future? We will continue to bring those messages to the new Congress and to statehouses next year.”
ASBN leaders and member business owners from California, Michigan and Ohio are available for interviews. To schedule, contact Anayana White at anayana@asbnetwork.org
Anayana White
American Sustainable Business Network
anayana@asbnetwork.org
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Why it matters: The midterm results signal that affordability is not a niche concern but a mainstream economic priority, and ASBN is positioning small businesses as key partners in shaping the policy response. As new leaders take office, the pressure to address insurance, energy, and grid costs will likely define the early legislative agenda, with implications for every household and Main Street employer.
