(The Center Square) – Inflation and the cost of living is easily the No. 1 choice for the top issue in the 2026 midterms for North Carolinians according to one poll, and Democrats are the most trusted party for it says another poll.
Samplings were taken over an eight-day period collectively by Carolina Forward in conjunction with Change Research and by Carolina Journal in conjunction with Harper Polling.
In the former’s survey, respondents were asked, “Regardless of how you generally vote, which party do you trust more on each of the following issues?”
Democrats polled ahead of Republicans 38-33% on cost of living, 39%-27% on housing affordability, and 36%-31% on the state budget. Republicans bested their counterpart 41%-34% on growing the economy. The combined “neither” or “not sure” responses totaled 28% on cost of living, 34% on housing affordability, 34% on the state budget, and 24% on growing the economy.
From Carolina Journal’s poll, a question asked, “Which of the following issues are the most important to you in the 2026 election? Please select two.”
No. 1 was inflation and cost of living (46.1%) followed by economy and jobs (18.1%).
The remainder shook out Social Security and Medicare (17.1%); taxes and spending (16.5%); healthcare (16.3%); immigration (15%); education (14.8%); national security (12.4%); crime and public safety (11.9%); gas prices (10.8%); energy and utility costs (9.2%); climate change (4.5%); and 1.1% were undecided.
Carolina Forward, in conjunction with Change Research, sampled 957 likely general election voters May 4-8. The margin of error is +/- 3.3%. Carolina Journal, in conjunction with Harper Polling, sampled 600 likely voters on May 10-11. Margin of error is +/- 4%.
