OPINION:
Majorities questioned in a newly released Pew Research Center survey say they’re unhappy with the direction of the national economy and that the prices of eggs, gas, housing and health care are still too high.
This is the one statistic with sticking power for the midterms.
No matter what the White House says; no matter what figures and data and dollars and cents this administration cites — it adds up to zero in the minds of voters if their perceptions of the economy are negative.
Words can only carry so far.
But when a shopper once paid $1.89 for a dozen eggs but now pays $4.50 or more, then words are quickly seen as slogans and slogans are just as quickly perceived as political lies. Remember how then-President Biden’s puppet-string pullers constantly told the financially struggling American public that inflation was actually a sign of a healthy, chugging economy? Yeah. Remember how that turned out for them?
Aside from border control, President Trump’s big wins were his promises to overcome Biden’s big economic losses. And Trump has. What was a 40-year inflation high of more than 9% under Biden in 2022 has plummeted under Trump to less than 3%. Wages are growing — and at a faster pace than inflation. Spending is up; the tariffs are still settling, but projections are they will take positive turns this year; and stock markets are showing some record highs.
But none of that really means anything if Americans aren’t feeling the optimism. And that’s what happening, Pew found.
“About seven-in-ten adults (71%) say they are very concerned about the cost of health care, while 66% say the same about the price of food and consumer goods,” Pew wrote. “Nearly as many (62 %) say they are very concerned about the cost of housing.”
Meanwhile, 51% are very concerned about the cost of electricity; and 34%, of gasoline.
But that’s the category of “very concerned.” Add in those who are “somewhat concerned” — and a nation of worriers tremble.
On health care — 93% are somewhat or very concerned; on food prices, 92%; on housing, 89%; on electricity, 85%; on gasoline, 68%; and on the performance of the stock market, 58%. Fully 79% of Americans, meanwhile, are either “very” or “somewhat” concerned about their ability to find jobs.
That’s a tenuous situation for Republicans entering midterm election season.
“It’s the economy, stupid!” — that was the signature campaign slogan of Bill Clinton presidential hopeful days. And the years may be many since 1992 and now, but come November 2026, it will be the economy, still, that proves the main issue for voters. Trump is moving fabulously down the path of securing the border. That’s huge. That’s commendable. And that, combined with the disastrous Biden economy, was the key voting issue for 2024 — law and order, border control, national security, removal of illegals, curtailing crime. But so was the economy.
And now that Trump’s taking care of the border, that leaves the economy as the glaring campaign issue. Right or wrong, Trump will be blamed by voters for whatever shape the economy’s in come Election Day.
With headlines like this — “The cost of health care, goods and housing are top economic concerns for America” — and this — “A Year Into Trump’s Second Term, Americans’ Views of the Economy Remain Negative” — both from Pew, based on survey results — then the angst of voters won’t be targeted so much against Democrats, as against the party in power. Voters will grumble their way from the gas station and grocery store to polling places with one thought on their mind: to elect fresh faces who will bring down prices.
It’s already tough enough for the party in the White House to retain majorities in both sides of Congress for subsequent elections.
“For 80 years, the president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections, a pattern that makes the 2026 congressional outlook clear,” The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization, wrote in January.
Add worry to the mix and what comes is a voting bloc that desires change — that demands change — and that has little patience on listening to the nuances of various political candidates as they explain their platforms and plans and policies. They’ll simply vote “change.”
And that’s all Democrats need; they only need to plant the idea that “change” is necessary in order to — insert political promise here. It worked for Barack Obama, after all. Promises of undefined hope and change won him the White House.
Headed into the midterms, it will be more of the same from Democrats. Without turning around Americans’ negative perceptions of the economy, though, the Dems’ flimsy promises of “hope and change” will find powerful wings from the fear and worry of voters.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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