A national survey found that most registered voters view current living costs as historically severe, while higher gasoline prices are shaping political attitudes ahead of the November midterm elections.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Nearly six in 10 registered voters say the cost of living is worse now than at any other point they can remember, according to a new national Politico poll that also found gasoline prices are influencing how some Americans intend to vote in November.
The survey showed that 57% of respondents considered current living costs the worst they had ever personally experienced. Another 26% said conditions were bad but recalled periods when the financial strain was greater, while only 8% characterized the cost of living as “not bad.”
The findings reflect widespread frustration over household expenses as voters assess the economy ahead of the midterm elections. Gasoline prices emerged as a particularly visible concern, with some respondents saying rising costs at the pump had reinforced their political loyalties and others indicating that the increases could push them toward the opposing party.
Among voters who said gas prices had affected their November plans, 46% reported becoming more committed to the party they already intended to support. Another 31% said the issue made them more likely to vote for the other party, while approximately 15% remained undecided.
The poll also asked respondents to assign responsibility for the broader condition of the U.S. economy. President Donald Trump received the largest single share of blame, although voters were divided among several explanations involving both the current and previous administrations.
Nearly 32% said Trump was entirely responsible for current economic conditions. Seventeen percent placed full responsibility on former President Joe Biden, while 14% said the two presidents were equally responsible.
An additional 11% said Trump bore most of the responsibility but that Biden also played a role. Ten percent took the opposite view, identifying Biden as mainly responsible while assigning some responsibility to Trump.
Voters were also asked what they believed had caused gasoline prices to rise since Trump returned to office. The war in Iran was the most frequently selected explanation, cited by 63% of respondents.
Trump’s tariffs on imported goods were identified by 40%, while 38% pointed to his management of the economy. Supply chain disruptions were selected by 23%, and 21% said insufficient domestic oil production had contributed to higher fuel costs.
Nineteen percent attributed the increases to sanctions imposed on Russia or other oil-producing nations. Another 15% blamed production reductions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers.
Responses varied sharply according to political affiliation and voters’ choices in the 2024 presidential election.
People who supported Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 were considerably more likely than Trump voters to blame tariffs and the president’s domestic economic policies for rising gasoline prices. Trump supporters were more inclined to cite international developments, particularly the war in Iran.
The results indicate that although many Americans share concerns about prices, they remain deeply divided over which leaders and policies are responsible. They also suggest that fuel costs could have a meaningful effect on voter motivation, either by strengthening existing partisan commitments or encouraging some voters to reconsider their preferred party.
The poll surveyed 2,061 registered voters from July 12 through July 15. Its overall margin of error was plus or minus 2.16 percentage points.
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