Cost of Living Loomed Large in 2026 Midterm Polls

Economic concerns featured prominently in voter surveys surrounding the November 3, 2026, U.S. midterm elections, with exit-poll findings showing affordability weighed heavily on voters and Democrats holding an advantage on most issues asked. Republicans led Democrats on immigration, according to NBC exit-poll reporting, while final race results were not included in the polling reports summarized here. NBC exit polls found that 39% of voters named the economy as the country’s most important issue, followed by democracy at 32% and immigration at 14%. The same exit-poll figures indicated that 88% considered affordability a crucial or major factor in their vote, including 49% who called it crucial. A separate set of exit-poll figures reported that 88% of voters regarded cost of living as a crucial or major voting factor: 49% said it was crucial and 39% said it was a major factor. Those responses measured the issue’s importance, not which party those voters supported. In NBC’s reported issue-by-issue comparisons, Democrats were preferred on the issues surveyed except immigration. Republicans were preferred on immigration by 44% to 41%. The exit-poll reporting also said voters who...