Childcare costs weigh on some voters before the midterm elections

Childcare is becoming a kitchen-table issue for voters who are already weighing grocery, housing and fuel costs. ABC and the Associated Press profile Pennsylvania parent Jenny Escolastico, a Trump voter in 2024, who says childcare expenses could affect her choice in the midterms.

The report puts the price in context: full-time care averaged about $13,000 a year in 2025. It also follows parents with different political views who are trying to balance work, family budgets and the cost of care.

The candidates featured offer different responses. Democrat Bob Brooks backs universal pre-K, while Republican Ryan Mackenzie points to tax credits; the story also notes outside spending by groups trying to make childcare a campaign issue.

The reporting does not suggest childcare alone will decide the election. It shows how a recurring household bill can shape voters’ priorities, even when they disagree about which policies would bring costs down.