Economy and affordability
National polling tied to the 2026 midterms shows voters ranking economic issues—especially prices, inflation, and affordability—as the top topics they want congressional candidates to address. These concerns are relevant for Maine voters in the same cycle, including the competitive Senate contest.
What should be Maine’s top priority for addressing cost of living and the economy before the 2026 elections?
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Sources
Pew Research Center — https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/07/23/as-the-2026-midterms-approach-economy-is-front-and-center
By a wide margin, voters most want candidates running for Congress to talk about economic issues – with many specifically mentioning prices and affordability.
Harvard Institute of Politics — https://iop.harvard.edu/youth-poll/52nd-edition-spring-2026
Rising prices and inflation (46%) and the cost of housing (40%) are the only issues that large shares of young Americans consider urgent national crises, far outpacing other issues tested.
CBS Chicago — https://www.facebook.com/cbschicago/posts/voters-say-their-top-issues-going-into-the-2026-midterm-election-are-immigration/1657976972363176
Voters say their top issues going into the 2026 midterm election are immigration, President Trump's policies, and affordability.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Expand government aid, price controls, and social spending to directly lower household costs
- Raise targeted benefits and invest publicly while adding modest taxes on high earners
- Balance selective relief with careful budgeting and bipartisan economic measures
- Cut regulations and taxes to spur growth, with limited temporary relief programs
- Prioritize deep spending cuts, deregulation, and broad tax reductions over new aid