Since Republican-run states are far more affordable than those led by Democrats, the GOP should never have lost the messaging battle on the issue in the recent elections in New York, New Jersey and Virginia, host Mark Levin explained on his show Life, Liberty & Levin on Saturday night.
“It’s amazing to me that blue states governors and mayors are able to talk about affordability” and “that Republicans are failing on this front,” Levin said, noting that costs are lower in virtually every Republican state. While elections are about much more than affordability, Levin said he found it unbelievable that Democrats campaigned on the issue and that “Republicans are failing on this front.”
“If the battle is over affordability, you should be cleaning their clocks,” Levin said in a message to Republicans.
Levin then compared the cost of living in the three states and California, where Governor Gavin Newsom is the leading Democrat Presidential hopeful for 2028, to that in comparable Republican-run states in six product categories:
- Groceries
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Restaurants
- Housing
- Clothing
Citing data from mylifeelsewhere.com, Levin showed how Republican states are more affordable overall and in practically every category.
New York Costs:
- 16.5% higher than in Florida
- 17.9% higher than in Texas
- 19.4% higher than in Tennessee
- 25.7% higher than in Ohio
New Jersey Costs:
- 24.8% higher than in Florida
- 26.3% higher than in Texas
- 28.1% higher than in Tennessee
- 35.1% higher than in Ohio
Virginia Costs:
- 13.9% higher than in Florida
- 15.9% higher than in Texas
- 16.2% higher than in Tennessee
- 23.3% higher than in Ohio
California Costs:
- 21.8% higher than in Florida
- 24.5% higher than in Texas
- 24.5% higher than in Tennessee
- 34.0% higher than in Ohio
“We have to learn how to speak and make the case,” Levin said, noting that “state by state by state” Republicans should be campaigning on the affordability issue."
My opening statement on last night’s Life, Liberty & Levinhttps://t.co/rh8L9GBjBo
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) November 16, 2025
MRC's Jack Skilton contributed to this story.
