For almost a year, U.S. President Donald Trump has been urging voters not to be concerned about increasing prices. Despite criticisms, Trump has dismissed worries about affordability as a tactic by Democrats. He also claimed consumer prices had decreased during his tenure when they had actually gone up. Furthermore, he repeatedly stated that gas and diesel costs, which surged following the conflict with Iran, would soon decrease.
However, various polls indicate that voters are not convinced by Trump’s assertions, giving him low ratings on the cost of living. According to the Silver Bulletin, an average of over 70% of American respondents disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation.
The most recent inflation figures are unlikely to favor Trump and the Republican Party as they strive to retain control of the U.S. Congress in the upcoming midterm elections on November 3, less than three weeks away. The U.S. Department of Labor reported a 3.7% increase in the consumer price index in September compared to the previous year, primarily driven by higher fuel and clothing prices.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling Center, notes that polling reveals the economy as the primary concern for voters nationwide leading up to the midterms. Specifically, the cost of living ranks higher than issues like jobs or taxes.
Kimball emphasizes that everyday expenses are mounting, causing anxiety about affordability among people. He doubts that solutions to rising gas prices and other living costs will materialize in the short term.
Trump’s recent travels across the U.S. are politically strategic, aimed at bolstering Republican Senate candidates’ chances. His visits to traditionally Republican states such as Alaska, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas, which he won by significant margins in the 2024 election, reflect efforts to secure crucial seats.
Polling analyst Tim Malloy from Quinnipiac University Poll highlights that Trump’s campaign trips are a last-ditch effort to support Republican candidates facing unexpected challenges due to cost of living concerns. Gas prices, a key worry among voters, are being attributed to Trump, who is seen as failing to fulfill promises made during the conflict with Iran.
In Martinsburg, W.Va., a Republican stronghold, residents are feeling the financial strain. Individuals like Christalyn Levy, a local thrift store cashier, express struggles with grocery expenses and resorting to food pantries due to financial constraints.
Meanwhile, Juliana Kaiser in the same community has adapted by baking her bread and reducing travel to save costs. Rising prices are set to influence her voting decisions in the looming midterms.