As former President Joe Biden and past president Donald Trump prepared for a fight of 2020 in November, likely voters are focused on prices and price rises, illegal immigration, and the business.  ,
The Center Square Voters ‘ Voice Poll, conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights, found that given a range of options to identify their top concerns, likely voters said inflation/price increases ( 45 % ),  , illegal immigration ( 44 % ) and the economy/jobs ( 24 % ) were the issues that matter most to them.  , Rounding out the top 10 issues were abortion rights ( 22 % ), crime/violence ( 22 % ), government corruption ( 20 % ), climate change ( 19 % ), health care access ( 18 % ), national debt/government spending ( 16 % ) and national security ( 16 % ).
However, the most prevalent responses were by far inflation and illegal immigration.  ,
According to David Byler of Noble Predictive Insights, inflation is a high-ranking issue for Democrats, Republicans, and true independents. ” Every political group thinks this matters”.
Inflation peaked at 9.1 % in June 2022 and over the past 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2 % before seasonal adjustment. The inflation rate remains above the Fed’s 2 % target. Budgets in America have been squeezed by price increases and inflation. And while the wealthy may have a greater buffer against inflation, it does n’t mean they like it.  ,
Inflation hits everyone, which is what makes it so politically dangerous, according to Byler.  ,
Border states like Arizona and Texas have sent busloads of immigrants to cities all over the country, which has increased the scope of illegal immigration. Texas has paid to bus more than 102, 000 migrants to cities including New York, Chicago and Denver, among others.  ,
The problem of illegal immigration has risen from the bottom to the top. The summer 2023 Voters ‘ Voice Poll found , inflation , topped the list with 44 % of voters identifying it as the top concern, followed by crime/violence ( 27 % ) and illegal immigration ( 25 % ). Polling indicates that voters ‘ concerns about those issues have grown since then, with worries about illegal immigration gaining over crime and violence.
When you’re in an election like this, where both candidates are highly well-known, Americans have the experience of being governed by both men, you’re in a situation where the issue matrix really matters, Byler said. The focus has changed from those that Biden did in 2020 to those that Trump has a strong grasp of, such as the economy and immigration.
According to Michael Bitzer, chair of the politics department at Catawba College in North Carolina, economic issues have a way to take the top spot.
Simply put, because voters tend to prioritize economic issues when they are prominent in the political environment, he told The Center Square. ” Things like the unemployment rate, when it is high, takes center stage in voters ‘ minds and decision- making, along with pocketbook issues like prices. Since there have been many election cycles when inflation has been a top concern for voters, it has really been one since that time. This is because of the historically low trendline of inflation being so low, its recent increase upwards, and now a return to what we have generally seen since over the past decade.
A , survey , on American fears, done each year by Chapman University, found that corrupt government officials (60.1 % were very afraid or afraid ) were America’s biggest fear in 2023. That was followed by economic/financial collapse ( 54.7 % ).
The poll of 2, 510 voters included 1, 044 Republicans, 1, 126 Democrats and 340 true independents. It was conducted March 11- 15 and has a margin of error of + /- 2 %.
