As the November midterm elections approach, rising childcare costs are emerging as a significant concern for many American families, influencing voter decisions in key battleground districts. In Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, where the contest is highly competitive, the burden of childcare expenses is shaping the political debate.
Jenny Escolastico, a mother of two young children living near Allentown, represents the challenges faced by many parents. Currently relying on her husband’s income, Escolastico has chosen to stay home because the cost of childcare exceeds what she would earn by working full time. Despite her son attending state-funded prekindergarten, the need for afterschool and full-time care for her daughter imposes further financial strain. This situation has led Escolastico, who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, to reconsider her political allegiance ahead of the upcoming election.
Childcare prices in the United States have increased at a rate surpassing inflation since 2020, with the national average for full-time care projected to exceed $13,000 in 2025. A recent poll found that approximately 75% of U.S. adults view childcare costs as a major problem, and 64% support federal programs offering free or low-cost care for young children not yet in public school.
In Pennsylvania’s 7th District, both major-party candidates are addressing childcare in their campaigns. Democratic nominee Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter, advocates for universal prekindergarten, expanded full-day kindergarten, increased Head Start funding, and broader eligibility for federal childcare assistance. Drawing on personal experience assisting with caring for his granddaughters, Brooks has emphasized the escalating costs of family care and criticized federal inaction.
Incumbent Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie has favored tax-based solutions, co-sponsoring legislation to extend federal tax credits for childcare expenses. This proposal, later incorporated into a broader tax and spending bill endorsed by former President Trump, also aims to incentivize private employers to provide or subsidize childcare. Mackenzie stressed continued bipartisan cooperation to support working families.
While Trump’s campaign touted plans to reduce childcare costs using tariff revenues, concrete measures have yet to materialize. More recently, he expressed skepticism about expanded federal childcare funding, citing competing national priorities.
The prominence of childcare issues has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the childcare sector. Federal relief totaling over $50 billion was allocated to sustain providers, enhance wages, and expand assistance. President Joe Biden’s 2021 proposal to cap childcare expenses at 7% of household income failed to pass Congress. Following the expiration of pandemic aid, longer waitlists for childcare support have pressed some families to reduce work hours or endure financial hardship.
Elsewhere, the rising cost of childcare is prompting broader policy proposals. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pledged free childcare citywide, while recently elected Democratic governors in New Jersey and Virginia have prioritized increased funding.
Lerin Hagenbuch of Allentown, a Republican, expressed frustration at persistent childcare challenges, noting that when seeking care for her son, some options were so costly she would have needed to take a second job. With staffing shortages common across the industry, Hagenbuch said the inability of many parents to even work part time due to childcare demands represents a significant economic and social issue influencing voter behavior this election cycle.