Voters in the 2026 midterm elections identified the cost of living and the performance of President Donald Trump as their primary concerns, according to polling data released as polls opened on Tuesday, Nov. 3. While President Trump stated on Tuesday that inflation is "solved," recent federal data indicated that consumer prices rose 3.6% in September compared to a year earlier.
The POLITICO Poll, conducted with PF Global, found that approximately half of Americans have ranked the cost of living among their top three issues for the past year. A Reuters/Ipsos poll corroborated this focus, with 48% of registered voters naming the cost of living as their most important issue. Additionally, 49% of Americans in that survey reported that their household finances have worsened since Trump took office in January 2025.
On the morning of the election, President Trump told Fox & Friends that "inflation is solved" and "everything’s going good." However, U.S. Commerce Department figures from Oct. 29 showed monthly price increases of 0.5% in September, the highest since May. Joel Griffith of Advancing American Freedom stated on social media that inflation is heating up.
The midterm results will affect how members of the U.S. House and Senate approach economic policy for the remainder of the Trump administration. The shift in voter trust toward Democrats—who now hold a 17-point lead over Republicans on the issue of affordability—comes as millions of households seek lower monthly expenses. According to Reuters/Ipsos, nearly half of registered voters are making their choice based on these costs, which have risen at a rate exceeding the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
Polling indicates that Democratic voters are split on how to prioritize their agenda: 51% want their representatives to fight harder to oppose Trump and the Republicans, while 45% prefer pragmatic cooperation across party lines. This divide could determine whether Congress passes bipartisan legislation to lower bills or focuses on blocking executive actions and preparing for the 2028 presidential race.
What happens next depends on the final vote tallies following the Nov. 3 election. If Democrats secure control of the House, they will face pressure from their base to address costs. However, 29% of Democratic voters indicated they would be willing to sacrifice progress on affordability if it improved the party's chances in the 2028 election. The new Congress is scheduled to be seated in January 2027.