Main Street
Keeps Receipts.
Building
Something
Different
Messaging matters, but nothing persuades like the voices of small business leaders people already love and trust.
-
Powerful lobbies have claimed to speak for Main Street while backing policies that drive costs up and squeeze working families. In 2026, the most credible messengers on affordability aren’t pundits—they’re small business owners living the impact every day.
Main Street Action elevates these trusted leaders to call out rising costs, failing care systems, and lawmakers who make life unaffordable. When small business owners speak, people listen—because they’re employers, caregivers, and community anchors with real skin in the game.
We flood the media ecosystem with their stories, make it impossible for electeds to hide from their votes, and push for healthcare, childcare, and policies that uplift Main Street.
Tipping Points
Main Street Action organizes trusted small business owners
and working families to demand a government that works for
Main Street. We center the real affordability, healthcare,and childcare pressures people face—flooding media and ads with their stories—
and turn that credibility into political power to call out obstruction,
elevate champions, and advance policies that help local economies thrive.
-
Our proven validator model helped flip legislative seats in 2024, and we’re scaling it for 2026. We’re activating farmers and small business owners to spotlight affordability, childcare, healthcare failure, and paid leave—while building a persuasion engine that can shift WI-03 and statewide outcomes. Learn more.
-
We’re mobilizing small business owners across suburban and rural districts to hold lawmakers accountable on rising costs, paid leave, and care cuts. Our validators are driving pro–Main Street narratives in key swing districts, shaping both earned media and voter sentiment ahead of 2026. Learn more.
-
We helped flip a Trump district in the August 2025 special election—and we’re building that momentum statewide. In partnership with the Iowa Farmers Union, we’re elevating small business and farmer validators to drive hard accountability work. Their voices make it easier for voters to connect the dots between why Iowa now has the weakest economy in America and the sickest workforce. Our validators are turning those lived realities into political pressure in IA-01, IA-02, and IA-03. Learn more.
-
We’re organizing Main Street leaders in Minnesota’s city centers—where our network is strongest—and leveraging that power to influence key suburban districts. Our small business validators are driving accountability on affordability, childcare, and healthcare, building the narrative and political pressure needed to protect recent wins and push back against efforts to roll them back in 2026. Learn more.
-
We’re growing a network of small business validators in key House districts to call out rising costs and anti–Main Street votes. In both states, trusted local messengers—manufacturers, childcare providers, restaurateurs—are becoming the front door for our persuasion and accountability work. Learn more.
In the News
Why
Main Street Messengers Work
Small business owners aren’t political consultants. They’re trusted neighbors, job creators, and the first people elected officials call when they need a photo op.
And that’s exactly why they move voters.
Cross-partisan credibility: Main Street voices land with moderates, independents and conservatives.
Built-in reach: They talk to hundreds of customers a week and manage venues perfect for meaningful convening.
Hardwired urgency: They’re living the policy impact—on payroll, rent, health care, and community well-being.
No one else brings business credibility with local authenticity.
Want to build economic power from the bottom up? Start where people already listen.
The Stakes
Trump’s agenda is crushing Main Street, and we’re organizing to fight back.
“Planning for the future is a luxury now. It’s hard to know what’s coming tomorrow.”
Chloe Longmire,
Chase My Creations, WI
“Iowa’s small business owners need policy that strengthens Main Street, not Wall Street.”
Sue Dinsdale,
Iowa Citizen Action Network, IA
“I’m fighting for the childcare providers in our state that are the workforce behind the workforce.”
Corrine Hendrickson,
Corrine’s Little Explorers, WI
We Fight Together
Trump’s agenda is steamrolling working families—slashing health care, gutting economic protections, and handing power to the ultra-rich. But there’s one thing standing in the way: an organized Main Street.
If you believe in the power of homegrown organizing to protect our democracy and our economy, register to vote below—make your voice count.