| 6 in 10 Voters Say National Debt Will Play ‘Major Role’ in Their Vote on Tuesday |
| 92% Concerned that Rising Debt is Increasing the Cost of Living |
This Election Day, the $40 trillion national debt will be a significant factor for most voters at the ballot box. A new national survey finds that 61% of voters who plan to vote on Tuesday say that the rising national debt will play “a major role” in their choice.
Additionally, nearly all voters are concerned that the debt is driving up their cost of living and are inclined to support candidates with a plan to address the debt.
The new survey, jointly conducted by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research, finds:61% of Election Day voters say the national debt will play a major role in their vote for federal office, including 61% of Democrats, 59% of independents and 63% of Republicans.
92% of voters (including 96% of Democrats, 91% of independents and 87% of Republicans) are concerned that the national debt’s effect on inflation is increasing the cost of living, including prices for groceries, energy, housing, transportation, and other goods and services.88% of voters (including 93% of Democrats, 88% of independents and 84% of Republicans) are concerned that the national debt is contributing to higher borrowing costs, such as credit card interest, car loan rates, and mortgage rates.
95% say they are more likely to support a candidate with a plan to address the debt, including 96% of Democrats, 91% of independents and 96% of Republicans.82% say a candidate having a plan to address the national debt is a factor in deciding their support in the 2026 election, including 83% of Democrats, 77% of independents and 82% of Republicans.
74% of voters (including 67% of Democrats, 86% of independents and 73% of Republicans) say they would consider supporting a candidate from a political party they do not usually support, if that candidate had a clear plan to address the debt.96% of voters want Senate candidates this year to clearly explain their plans to prevent automatic Social Security benefit cuts, with virtually unanimous agreement in each age bracket and across party lines.
“As they head to the polls, voters are making it clear that they want candidates to address the $40 trillion national debt—and they are even willing to look across the aisle to find leaders who will take action on our debt,” said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation.
“Americans understand that borrowing trillion after trillion drives up inflation and interest costs, making life less affordable for everyone. Voters are looking to support candidates with solutions to improve our fiscal health and cost of living, which will put the country on a stronger, more sustainable path.”
More broadly, the monthly U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index in October is 43 (100 is neutral), indicating that voters across party lines are seeking solutions to the nation’s worsening fiscal outlook.
A large majority of voters (84%) report their level of concern about the national debt has increased, including among 86% of Democrats, 80% of independents and 85% of Republicans. Additionally, there is widespread agreement among voters (80%) that addressing the debt should be a top-three priority for the president and Congress, including among 77% of Democrats, 76% of independents and 87% of Republicans.
The Fiscal Confidence Index measures public opinion about the national debt by asking six questions in three key areas:
CONCERN: Level of concern and views about the direction of the national debt.
PRIORITY: How high a priority addressing the debt should be for elected leaders.
EXPECTATIONS: Expectations about whether the debt situation will get better or worse in the next few years.
The survey results from these three areas are weighted equally and averaged to produce the Fiscal Confidence Index value. The Fiscal Confidence Index, like the Consumer Confidence Index, is indexed on a scale of 0 to 200, with a neutral midpoint of 100. A reading above 100 indicates positive sentiment.
A reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment. Fiscal Confidence Index Key Data Points:The October 2026 Fiscal Confidence Index value is 43. (The September and August values were 38.)The current Fiscal Confidence Index score for CONCERN about the debt is 36, indicating deep concern about the debt. The score for debt as a PRIORITY that leaders must address is 23, indicating that Americans want elected leaders to make addressing long-term debt a high priority. The score for EXPECTATIONS about progress on the debt is 71. The Fiscal Confidence Index is the average of these three sub-category scores.
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation commissioned this poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. The online poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide between October 19 and October 21, 2026. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.Detailed results can be found online at www.pgpf.org/FiscalConfidenceIndex.