US voters show economic worries ahead of 2026 midterms, polls show

Voters across the United States are preparing to cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, with concerns over the economy, the cost of living and immigration dominating public attention. Surveys indicate that while both Democratic and Republican supporters share worries about rising living costs, they differ in how they assess the broader economy and other key issues.

A poll by NBC released on Sunday found that three quarters of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the US economy, while just over half said they were unhappy with their own financial situation.

Additional surveys carried out in October examined how voters from both main parties view their finances and which topics matter most to them. The economy emerged as the leading concern overall, though Democrats and Republicans placed different levels of importance on issues such as healthcare, immigration and crime.

According to a Pew Research Centre survey conducted between September 28 and October 4, 84 percent of registered voters described the economy as a very important factor in their midterm voting decision. This concern was shared by 82 percent of those supporting Republican candidates and 88 percent of those backing Democrats.

The two groups diverged notably on other topics. About 85 percent of Democratic supporters said the state of democracy was a very important issue, compared with 69 percent of Republicans. Healthcare was considered a high priority by 82 percent of Democratic voters, versus 53 percent of Republican voters.