# Senate candidates push to raise Social Security taxes > Democrats across battleground states are campaigning on lifting the payroll tax cap to prevent automatic benefit cuts in 2032. - Title: Senate candidates push to raise Social Security taxes - Summary: Democrats across battleground states are campaigning on lifting the payroll tax cap to prevent automatic benefit cuts in 2032. Senate candidates, mostly… - Keywords: social security, senate candidates, payroll tax, 2032 deadline, democrats, michigan, iowa, texas, abdul el-sayed, josh turek, james talarico, politics - Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/looming-social-security-debate-politics-desk-rcna602393 - Author: The Politics Desk - Published: 2026-10-08T21:35:43.41+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: social security, senate candidates, payroll tax, 2032 deadline, democrats, michigan, iowa, texas, abdul el-sayed, josh turek, james talarico, politics ## The Social Security deadline Social Security is fully funded until the fourth quarter of twenty thirty-two, after which benefits will automatically be cut by twenty-two percent unless Congress acts. ## Senate terms align with crisis The class of senators elected this fall will serve six-year terms ending January twenty thirty-three, giving them power to address the twenty thirty-two deadline. ## Current tax cap explained Americans are currently taxed on earnings up to one hundred eighty-four thousand five hundred dollars to fund Social Security. ## Michigan Democrat's position Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed said if elected, he will end the cap on Social Security tax to make sure the rich pay their fair share. > I will end the cap on Social Security tax to make sure the rich pay their fair share. ## Iowa Democrat's approach Democrat Josh Turek supports eliminating the payroll tax cap and will protect Social Security by lifting the cap to make billionaires pay their fair share. ## Texas Democrat's proposal Democrat James Talarico is running on a platform to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share by eliminating the tax cap on those earning over four hundred thousand dollars a year. ## Disagreement on cap level Supporters of raising Social Security taxes disagree on whether to eliminate the cap entirely or move the new tax threshold to four hundred thousand dollars. ## Democrats' PAC dilemma Refusing corporate PAC contributions has become an article of faith among progressives, but the pledge faces complications from super PAC spending. ## Direct PAC limits Corporate PACs can only give five thousand dollars per election directly to a candidate, hardly enough to influence races that turn on tens of millions of dollars. ## Schumer's super PAC haul Senate Majority PAC, backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, had raised one hundred fifty million dollars through the end of June, much from billionaires and corporations. ## Hinson's debate challenge Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, told Josh Turek he is taking laundered corporate PAC money that flows through Chuck Schumer to support him. > He is basically taking laundered corporate PAC money. ## Turek's non-response Turek ignored Hinson's invitation to call on corporate-funded outside groups to stop backing him in the Iowa Senate race. ## Super PAC coordination limits Super PACs cannot coordinate directly with campaigns but are designed to amplify candidates' messages, creating a grey area for Democratic candidates. ## The Schumer paradox Democratic candidates distance themselves from Schumer while benefiting from his fundraising, but a secret ballot leadership election next year may reveal their true preferences. ## Key takeaway Senate candidates, mostly Democrats, are running on raising Social Security taxes on higher earners to avert a twenty-two percent benefit cut scheduled for twenty thirty-two.