As the political world turns its sights to the 2026 midterm elections, one issue will outweigh all the rest: affordability.

Democrats held the federal government hostage over extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) for the individual market. Without these subsidies, premiums for individual plans are set to rise by 26 percent. Republicans have already announced plans to prioritize fixes to the individual market. However, there’s a bigger issue looming with the ACA. If Republicans don’t act quickly, Democrats will use it as a midterm cudgel.