A voter poll conducted in the run‑up to the 2026 U.S. election found that 39% of respondents cited the economy as the most important issue, while 32% put the state of democracy first. The survey, carried out by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of news organisations, drew on a representative sample of more than 79,000 voters, including exit polls of both early and on‑the‑day voters.
Other issues ranked lower: immigration (14%) and healthcare, foreign policy and crime trailed behind. The data suggest most voters view the national economy negatively, with 75% describing it as “not so good or poor” and only 25% calling it “excellent or good.”
When asked about personal finances, 44% said their situation was worse than two years ago, 38% the same, and 18% better. Nearly two‑thirds (65%) blamed President Donald Trump’s policies for worsening economic conditions, while 27% said they had improved them and 8% said the president had no impact.
Regarding the 2026 midterm vote, 43% said opposition to Trump was a reason for voting, 41% said it was not a factor, and only 16% said support for him motivated their vote. A majority of respondents (38%) expressed anger or dissatisfaction with the current state of the country, with only 18% satisfied and 7% enthusiastic.
Corruption was cited by 90% of voters as a crucial or major factor in their decision to vote. Inflation also weighed heavily: 79% said it caused severe or moderate hardship in the past year, and 59% were very concerned about petrol and diesel costs, with 58% similarly concerned about food and groceries. Seventy‑two per cent believed higher prices were largely due to Trump’s policies.
On foreign policy, 63% of voters said the U.S. made the wrong decision to take military action against Iran, while 37% agreed it was correct. Seventy‑four per cent considered the Iran conflict a crucial or major factor in their congressional vote.
Demographic breakdowns showed women voting 58% for Democratic House candidates versus 40% for Republicans, while men were split almost evenly. Under‑45 voters leaned Democratic (66%), the 45‑64 group favored Democrats 51% to 47%, and those 65 and older leaned Republican (51% to 48%). White voters voted Republican 51% to Democrat 48%, whereas Hispanic and Latino voters backed Democrats 62% to 35%. Voters without a college degree leaned Republican (51% to 47%), whereas college‑educated voters favored Democrats 62% to 36%.
These figures provide a snapshot of national sentiment ahead of the 2026 election, though state‑level variations are expected.
