Key facts
- MAGA Trump voters remain sympathetic to the current administration regarding affordability concerns.
- 53% of non-MAGA Trump voters concerned about cost of living would vote Republican in midterms.
- Over 25% of non-MAGA Trump voters concerned about cost of living would vote Democrat or third-party.
- Family budgets have increased by an average of 2.5% from early 2025 to early 2026.
- 56% of voters under 25 who find the cost of living the worst ever trust Democrats to lower costs.
A POLITICO poll reveals a divide in how voters perceive the economy, particularly concerning affordability, with Donald Trump's most loyal supporters showing more sympathy towards his administration's economic policies than other voter groups. While cost of living is a primary concern across various blocs, only MAGA voters appear largely uncritical of the current economic situation.
According to a POLITICO analysis of data from the nonpartisan Living Wage Institute, family budgets have seen an average increase of 2.5% between early 2025 and early 2026. However, this shared concern about affordability does not translate into uniform blame or trust in political parties. Non-MAGA Trump voters who find the cost of living to be the worst they've experienced are split on their midterm voting intentions, with just over half indicating they would vote Republican, while more than a quarter would consider a Democrat or third-party candidate.
Young voters, especially young men, are expressing significant disillusionment with the current administration due to economic pressures. A majority of those under 25 who identify the cost of living as being at its worst ever stated they trust Democrats more than Republicans to address the issue. Republican candidate Joe Mitchell acknowledged this trend, noting that young people are drawn to candidates like Zohran Mamdani if the GOP does not offer solutions.