Midterm voters blame Trump's policies for inflation and high costs

American voters rejected President Donald Trump's economic management in Tuesday's midterm elections, attributing rising costs directly to his administration's actions. The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed approximately 100,000 voters, indicates that the public shifted blame away from the previous administration and onto Trump's specific policy choices.

About two-thirds of respondents stated that Trump's own policies fueled inflation. This sentiment contrasts with 2022, when only about half of voters held a similar view regarding President Joe Biden. Consumer prices rose by 3.7% over the past 12 months, a figure that exceeds the 3% inflation rate present when Trump began his second term.

Voters identified tariffs as a primary driver of economic friction. Across states ranging from California to Mississippi, respondents broadly agreed that taxes on foreign imports caused more harm than good. Trump dismissed these concerns during a recent rally in Iowa, claiming that prices were "coming way down" and that he had performed well.

The Iran conflict also factored into voter sentiment regarding energy costs. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the war drove gasoline prices up slightly in the short term but maintained that the engagement was necessary to check Iran's nuclear ambitions. He stated that he would make the same decision again if the situation arose.

Healthcare emerged as a distinct priority for voters who backed Democratic candidates. About six in ten respondents wanted the government to play a larger role in reducing medical expenses. Most of these voters reported that Trump's policies made healthcare costs worse, despite the overall economy showing signs of stability.

The relationship between income and economic outlook created a split in voter priorities. Approximately six in ten voters earning less than $50,000 annually said they were worse off than two years ago. In contrast, about four in ten households with incomes above $200,000 cited democracy as their top issue, placing it on par with the economy.

Trust in the current economic structure remains divided. About seven in ten voters nationwide said the economy favors the wealthy, while only three in ten viewed it as fair to everyday Americans. Even a majority of high-income voters in California, those with 2025 household incomes of $300,000 or more, felt the system was tilted toward the rich.

The AP Voter Poll was conducted by SSRS for a coalition of news outlets from October 19 to November 3 in Alaska and October 22 to November 3 in other states. The survey's margin of sampling error is plus or minus 0.6 percentage points.