Early projections from The Senior Citizens League put next year's cost-of-living adjustment above 2025's modest bump, driven by persistent inflation. The political math is simple: every COLA announcement is a reminder that prices are still elevated — which cuts against whoever holds the White House. Republicans are the ones holding the White House and the majority. Democrats who have been struggling to find affordability ground should be amplifying this number now, before October's official announcement locks in the story.