As Americans prepare to elect a new Congress on Nov. 3, national polls show economic conditions and health care are central voter concerns, with Iran and foreign policy also drawing attention.
In Gallup’s Oct. 1-19 survey, the economy and health care each received the top importance rating from 50% of registered voters. Iran got that response from 47% and gas prices from 42%. Gallup said it added Iran to its midterm issues list for the first time.
The Pew Research Center found the economy very important to 84% of registered voters, compared with 68% for health care and 57% for foreign policy. Among respondents who preferred Democratic candidates, 82% gave health care that rating, compared with 53% of those who preferred Republican candidates.
Overall consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months through September, up from 3.4% through August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. Gasoline prices rose 9.1% in September and 34.2% over the 12 months ending that month. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) put September averages at $4.35 per gallon for gasoline and $6.29 for diesel, citing higher crude oil prices and rising refining margins.
KFF’s Sept. 16-21 poll found 25% of registered voters were very worried about affording health care, the same share as those very worried about gas and transportation costs. The survey included 1,013 registered voters and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. KFF President and CEO Drew Altman described a large health care bill as “the least predictable” of voters’ cost-of-living pressures. Democrats led Republicans in voter trust on handling health care costs, 42% to 22%, and cost of living, 39% to 25%.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected federal outlays for premium tax credits and related spending would reach $112 billion in 2026, $28 billion, or 20%, below 2025. It attributed most of the decrease to lower expected marketplace enrollment after expanded premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. The estimate covers federal spending, not individual premium increases.
Gallup recorded a 49% economy rating in 2022 and 34% in 2018, compared with 50% this year; its 2010 health care figure was also 50%. The surveys measure issue importance and voter concerns, not how people will vote or which party will control Congress. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters will decide every House seat and a different third of the Senate.
