Inflation Remains the Top Issue for Midterm Voters
By Alvin Gunnion and Sabrina Jacobs
In the final stretch of the 2022 midterm election cycle, the topics that are most important to voters will have a major impact on their decisions at the ballot box. Data for Progress conducted a national survey of likely voters to track which issues will be most critical to voters across the country as they prepare to vote. Notably, we find that inflation has increased in importance for likely voters.
Our October polling finds that economic concerns remain top of mind ahead of the midterms. When asked which issues are the three most important for a candidate for Congress to focus on, 45 percent of likely voters choose inflation. The next most common responses are jobs and the economy, immigration, and crime and public safety.
In a September survey, we found that inflation was a top issue for 37 percent of likely voters. October’s survey then shows an 8-point increase in the percentage of voters who rank inflation as a top issue.
The emphasis on the economy and inflation poses a challenge for Democrats, who are hoping to retain control of the House and Senate. In addition to citing the economy as the leading issue of this election, voters believe that the Republican Party would do a better job of handling inflation by a +15-point margin. Voters also believe that Republicans would better address jobs and the economy by a +10-point margin.
Similarly, our polling shows that voters are more likely to have heard Democratic messaging around protecting abortion and reproductive rights (ranked as the sixth-most important issue to voters) than messaging about plans to fight inflation and reduce crime, which are the most important and fourthmost important issues to voters, respectively.
Forty-six percent of likely voters say they have heard “a lot” about Democrats’ plans to address abortion rights. Meanwhile, 27 percent have heard a lot about Democratic plans to improve the economy, and only 18 percent have heard a lot about Democratic plans to address crime rates.
Lastly, our poll asked voters if they think the Democratic Party or the Republican Party will win the House or the Senate in the midterm election. Forty-six percent of voters believe that Republicans will take the House, while 44 percent of voters think Republicans will win the Senate.
With the midterm election days away, it’s crucial that Democrats pay attention to the attitudes and priorities of voters. While Democrats have strongly addressed abortion and reproductive rights, it’s also important that they prioritize strong messaging around inflation and the economy, particularly to persuade undecided voters that Democratic policies will improve the lives of all voters.
Alvin Gunnion (@alvingunnion) is a communications intern at Data for Progress.
Sabrina Jacobs is a digital fellow at Data for Progress.
Survey Methodology