{"id":106219,"date":"2026-10-08T09:44:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T15:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/?p=106219"},"modified":"2026-10-08T09:44:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T15:44:34","slug":"senate-candidates-quiet-about-social-security-cliff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/2026\/10\/08\/senate-candidates-quiet-about-social-security-cliff\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Candidates Quiet About Social Security Cliff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Nearly all of the U.S. senators elected this year will be in office when Congress debates how to restructure Social Security to prevent an automatic drop-off in retirement benefits in 2032.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very few candidates in competitive races, however, have policy proposals on their campaign websites and many, when contacted by States Newsroom, declined to share details about which changes they\u2019d support if elected.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said even though Social Security\u2019s financial woes have been discussed more during this year\u2019s campaign cycle, most candidates have shied away from getting into the weeds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s really disappointing is nobody is talking about a realistic suite of options that will fix it,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are a few who will mention lifting the payroll tax cap, which is probably the most often cited policy, but that on its own won\u2019t fix the program.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Workers now pay a 6.2% tax that goes directly to Social Security, though that doesn\u2019t apply to earnings above $184,500.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MacGuineas said one upside to this year\u2019s campaign cycle is more voters understand that a candidate promising not to touch Social Security guarantees the automatic benefit cut in 2032, which will worsen over time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, she said, she understands why candidates would want to wait until they are actually elected to Congress to go into detail about something that was once widely considered the third rail of American politics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s been so long since politicians have been honest about what Social Security faces and what fixes will be required,\u201d MacGuineas said. \u201cAn election cycle is not where you\u2019d expect a 180-degree switch into a direct conversation. I think this is the first step, and hopefully, post-midterms, we are able to start having that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two-way communication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shai Akabas, vice president of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said candidates need to be honest with voters about the changes they\u2019ll likely have to make to Social Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, he said, politicians need to hear from Americans that they understand Congress must take some action in the years ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUntil we get that two-way street working, it\u2019s going to be really hard to move anything into law,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Candidates, and those who work for them, have plenty of resources to study up on Social Security\u2019s financial problems and explore the numerous changes that could be combined to avoid a 22% reduction in benefits from taking place in 2032.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not like policymakers are entering into a novel problem that has unexplored solutions,\u201d Akabas said. \u201cThey\u2019re walking on well trodden ground and it is more about finding the political will to put those solutions together to create a bipartisan reform package than it is creating solutions from scratch.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Akabas said it\u2019s important for candidates to discuss realistic solutions on the campaign trail, the job of fixing the program would be less fraught if undertaken in a bipartisan way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf the two parties together hold hands and say, \u2018Here\u2019s a reform that we\u2019re going to put in place, and yes, it has difficult decisions, but it\u2019s the right thing to do for the country,\u2019 I think our polling shows that that could be reasonably well received,\u201d he said. \u201cIf, on the other hand, a candidate is putting that proposal out by themselves, it is extremely easy for the other side to message, \u2018This candidate just wants to raise your taxes\u2019 or \u2018This candidate just wants to cut Social Security.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what politicians running in close Senate races say about Social Security on their websites and shared with States Newsroom when asked for which detailed policy changes they\u2019d support if elected to Congress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alaska&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Mary Peltola\u2019s website says if elected she would \u201cwork to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits for the nearly 95,000 seniors in Alaska.\u201d A spokesperson wrote she \u201cis in this race to fix the rigged system in DC and put Alaska first \u2013 that means putting more money in Alaskans\u2019 pockets and ending federal income tax on Social Security.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican Dan Sullivan didn\u2019t have any policy proposals on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Iowa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Republican Ashley Hinson\u2019s campaign website says she would preserve \u201cSocial Security and Medicare benefits that vulnerable Iowans depend on, while rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse that deplete these programs.\u201d Campaign communications director Billy Fuerst wrote in an email that Hinson \u201cwill always protect Social Security for Iowa seniors, and she will work with anyone to ensure the long-term solvency of this vital program. Ashley has never and will never cut a penny from Social Security.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Democrat Josh Turek\u2019s website says he would strengthen \u201cSocial Security by ensuring billionaires pay their fair share\u201d and raise \u201cSocial Security income and assets limits for disabled individuals.\u201d A staffer for his campaign sent several examples of Turek talking about Social Security, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacapitaldispatch.com\/2026\/09\/09\/josh-turek-calls-for-lifting-income-cap-on-social-security-to-sustain-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an article<\/a>\u00a0in the Iowa Capital Dispatch that quoted him saying it was \u201cridiculous\u201d that wealthy Americans didn\u2019t pay any taxes to Social Security on income above $184,500.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kansas&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Adam Hamilton\u2019s website states: \u201cWe need to protect social security and provide real solutions for seniors.\u201d A campaign staffer sent\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/johnsoncountypost.com\/2026\/07\/16\/u-s-senate-candidates-on-the-issues-social-security-medicare-and-health-care-291203\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an article<\/a>\u00a0from the Johnson County Post quoting Hamilton as saying, \u201cBoth parties have kicked the can down the road, and the only way this gets solved is if Republicans and Democrats act together. And there\u2019s movement: Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, and Bernie Moreno, a Republican, are working on bipartisan legislation to lift the payroll tax cap. That\u2019s where I\u2019d start. Right now only the first $184,500 of income is subject to Social Security tax, so somebody making $50,000 pays that tax on every dollar they earn while a person making millions pays on a small fraction. Raising the cap is the best lever we have to keep the program solvent without cutting benefits. I think about my mom, who\u2019s on Social Security now. A cut is not an option for her, and it shouldn\u2019t be for anyone.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican Roger Marshall didn\u2019t have any policy positions on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Republican Susan Collins\u2019 campaign website has one paragraph mentioning\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfromthestates.com\/article\/social-security-benefits-boosted-millions-bill-headed-bidens-desk-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">her work enacting a law<\/a>\u00a0that increased Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who had pensions after working in government or other public-sector jobs. Collins wrote in a statement that she supports \u201ccreating an independent, bipartisan commission of experts to develop recommendations \u2014similar to the one in the early 1980s. I have supported proposals calling for such a commission for Congress to consider.\u201d Collins added that she remains \u201ccommitted to keeping Social Security strong for current and future generations. It\u2019s a critical program and the foundation of retirement income for most Mainers, and I\u2019ve voted repeatedly to preserve it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Democrat Troy Jackson\u2019s website says he would \u201cprotect\u201d Social Security and notes he\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/d8k7fzvvqrxxsyccr3drb\/Mainers-depend-on-the-promise-of-Social-Security.-I-intend-to-keep-it_.pdf?rlkey=eh8nvpnfhx3ze4uzrsmrz0gqz&amp;st=hyd4g6vy&amp;e=2&amp;dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">published an op-ed<\/a>\u00a0in the Bangor Daily News saying he would eliminate the $184,500 payroll cap and raise benefits. He wrote he would \u201cnever\u201d vote to raise the retirement age or privatize the program. Campaign spokesperson Maggie Amjad wrote in an email that, \u201cTroy is committed to protecting Social Security from cuts and ensuring that Mainers receive the secure retirement and benefits they\u2019ve paid into and earned.\u201d She added that if elected, \u201che\u2019ll work to scrap the cap and require millionaires to pay Social Security taxes on their income, allow Medicare to negotiate the price of every drug, eliminate profiteering and waste, and expand benefits\u2014not raise the retirement age.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Michigan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Abdul El-Sayed\u2019s website says he would \u201cfight to close the Social Security payroll tax cap to make sure the rich pay their fair share so that Social Security stays solvent well into the future.\u201d Campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak wrote in an email that El-Sayed would \u201censure our seniors get the benefits they earned through a lifetime of labor.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican Mike Rogers doesn\u2019t have any policy details on this campaign website. But communications director Alyssa Brouillet wrote in an email that Rogers is committed to protecting the program since his \u201cparents survived on social security, as do his wife, Kristi\u2019s, parents.\u201d Brouillet added that Rogers \u201cis committed to protecting social security and Medicare for our seniors.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New Hampshire&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Chris Pappas\u2019 campaign website says he \u201cwill never vote to cut benefits or force seniors to work longer for less. He has fought against efforts to raise the retirement age, slash Social Security benefits, and privatize the entire system, a move that would gamble Granite Staters\u2019 hard-earned benefits in the stock market and benefit Wall Street. Chris is committed to shoring up and improving Social Security to ensure that current retirees and future generations can trust that their benefits will be there.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican John Sununu didn\u2019t have any policy details on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>North Carolina&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Roy Cooper didn\u2019t have any policy proposals on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican Michael Whatley didn\u2019t have any policy positions on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ohio<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrat Sherrod Brown\u2019s website says that because of the Social Security Fairness Act,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfromthestates.com\/article\/social-security-benefits-boosted-millions-bill-headed-bidens-desk-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a broadly bipartisan bill<\/a>\u00a0that became law in 2024, more than 2 million \u201cformer teachers, bus drivers, police officers, firefighters, and other workers are now receiving their full Social Security payments that previously were withheld by the federal government.\u201d A campaign spokesperson didn\u2019t provide any details about what types of policy changes Brown would support in the future to avoid the automatic benefit cut, responding to States Newsroom\u2019s request for policy details with criticisms of Husted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republican Jon Husted didn\u2019t have any policy details on his campaign website and staff didn\u2019t respond to multiple requests for more information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Texas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Republican Ken Paxton\u2019s website doesn\u2019t have any policy proposals related to Social Security. A campaign staffer responded in an email that Paxton \u201cbelieves we must protect Social Security for the millions of seniors who spent their lives paying into the system and are counting on the benefits they earned.\u201d The campaign staffer also said that Paxton \u201cwill continue to stand behind lowering taxes and ensuring Social Security remains protected for generations to come.\u201d The campaign didn\u2019t explain how exactly Paxton would do that if he became a senator.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Democrat James Talarico\u2019s website says he would support \u201celiminating the tax cap on those earning over $400,000 a year, and incentivize employer-sponsored pensions.\u201d A campaign staffer wrote in an email that Talarico would eliminate the $184,500 payroll tax ceiling for Social Security. He would also \u201csupport creating a tax system in which every dollar of income over $400,000 is taxed to fund Social Security. This policy would include a tax ramp-up starting at $400,001 that grows with additional income. This would ensure the top 2% of American earners are doing their part to keep this program solvent, without increasing the tax burden on the middle class during a cost-of-living crisis.\u201d The campaign staffer wrote that Talarico wouldn\u2019t support increasing the retirement age at which Americans can begin collecting Social Security benefits or reduce scheduled benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom WASHINGTON \u2014 Nearly all of the U.S. senators elected this year will be in office when Congress debates how to restructure Social Security to prevent an automatic drop-off in retirement benefits in 2032.&nbsp; Very few candidates in competitive races, however, have policy proposals on their campaign websites and many, when [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":106220,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[2939,7,287,3295],"class_list":["post-106219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-elections","tag-headline","tag-social-security","tag-u-s-senate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kcnonline.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}