Childcare costs weigh on Pa. voters before the midterm elections – NBC10 Philadelphia

Childcare costs weigh on Pa. voters before the midterm elections  NBC10 Philadelphia

In Pa.'s hotly contested 7th Congressional District, both candidates are making childcare part of their pitch as costs weigh on voters. Like so many Americans, Jenny Escolastico has watched wearily as the cost of living has risen, straining her household budget. But as a mother of two children under 5, she faces added pressure that could shape how she votes in November: childcare costs. Escolastico’s household outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, is relying solely on her husband’s income. She’s staying home with her children, at least in part because she simply can’t afford to work. Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10. "What I would be spending on childcare would be more than what I would be making if I were working full time,” said Escolastico, an Air Force veteran who later worked in human resources.

“Childcare is another rent, another car note.” Even though her son now attends state-funded prekindergarten, returning to work would still mean finding him after-school care, plus full-time childcare for her daughter. Those costs are top of mind as Escolastico, who voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, weighs whether to vote Democratic next month. She lives in Pennsylvania's hotly contested 7th Congressional District, one of a handful that will determine which party controls Congress next year. The midterm elections have been dominated