In Election 2025, the economy’s still the main thing, according to the AP Voter Poll

Economic Concerns Dominate Voters’ Minds in Off-Year Elections

Economic worries emerged as the primary concern among voters in Tuesday’s elections across New Jersey, Virginia, California, and New York City, according to preliminary findings from the AP Voter Poll. The expansive survey of more than 17,000 voters revealed widespread anxiety about an economy struggling with elevated prices and diminishing job opportunities.

Despite President Donald Trump’s return to the White House a year ago with promises to control inflation and boost economic growth, financial concerns remain paramount for most Americans. The economy continues to face significant headwinds, with persistently high inflation and a marked slowdown in hiring, even as the stock market has shown strength. The recent federal government shutdown has only amplified economic uncertainty across the country.

While the Trump administration has focused on immigration enforcement and deploying federal officers to combat urban crime, these issues ranked far lower among voters’ priorities compared to economic concerns, the survey found.

The poll revealed deep dissatisfaction with the nation’s overall direction. More than half of voters in New Jersey and Virginia described themselves as “angry” or “dissatisfied” with how things are going in the country. In California, the discontent was even more pronounced, with about half of voters identifying as “angry” about the country’s direction and another 20% saying they were “dissatisfied.”

Local economic challenges manifested differently across regions. In New Jersey, where Republican Jack Ciattarelli faced off against Democrat Mikie Sherrill, most voters identified property taxes as a “major problem.” Approximately 70% of New Jersey voters highlighted property tax rates as a significant concern, while about 60% expressed similar worries about utility bills. The cost of living dominated the race, with each candidate proposing different solutions – Sherrill attacking Trump’s economic policies while Ciattarelli advocated for tax cuts to offset inflation.

In Virginia, where Democrat Abigail Spanberger competed against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, about 60% of voters reported that federal government cuts this year had affected their family finances “a lot” or “a little.” Approximately half of Virginia voters cited the economy as the most important issue facing their state, far outranking health care (20%), education or immigration (10% each), and crime (less than 10%).

New York City voters, choosing between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, overwhelmingly pointed to the cost of living as their primary concern. About 70% described housing costs as “a major problem,” with renters particularly likely to highlight this issue. Just over half identified cost of living as the most important issue facing America’s largest city, where rent expenses and income inequality have risen sharply.

The poll results suggest a pervasive feeling of economic stagnation. While most voters in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City described their personal finances as “holding steady,” relatively few felt they were “getting ahead,” and approximately one-quarter said they were “falling behind.” This perception of being financially stuck has contributed to the broader economic anxiety revealed in the survey.

In California, where residents voted Tuesday on a plan to redraw congressional district lines – a counterpoint to similar efforts in Republican-led states like Texas – economic concerns were similarly prevalent despite the state’s overall progressive leadership.

The 2025 AP Voter Poll, conducted by SSRS from October 22 to November 4, combined data collected from validated registered voters online and by telephone with information gathered in-person from Election Day voters at approximately 30 precincts per state or city, excluding California. The poll’s margin of sampling error ranged from 1.9 to 2.1 percentage points across the surveyed regions.

As the nation watches these off-year election results for clues about the political landscape, the clear message from voters remains focused on economic security and affordability challenges that continue to shape daily life for millions of Americans.