A sweeping majority of voters believe their representatives in Washington have little grasp of what it actually costs to live month to month, even as both parties lean heavily on affordability messaging to win over key constituencies ahead of the midterms.
According to an exclusive NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) survey released Tuesday, 86 percent of respondents said their current member of Congress or senator could not accurately estimate their typical monthly outlays. Of those, 55 percent predicted lawmakers would guess too low, while 31 percent expected them to overestimate. Only 14 percent felt their elected officials had a realistic handle on their spending.
GOP's affordability problem
The findings underscore a mounting political liability for Republicans, who control the White House and Congress. President Trump campaigned on taming inflation, but price pressures have not relented. The consumer price index rose from 3 percent in January to 3.4 percent by August, with the Iran conflict and ongoing tariff disputes with Canada adding upward pressure.
“When you ask [people] how they're feeling about the economy, they don't feel like things are getting better,” said Geoffrey Skelley, DDHQ's chief elections analyst. “They feel like things are getting worse, and considering Trump was elected … in large part, to address economic challenges, I think that is also not helping the GOP.”
Skelley added that rising gas prices—now averaging over $4 a gallon—are a visceral reminder of unfulfilled promises. “That's going to breed frustration with the party in power, and the buck stops with the Republicans this time around.”
Spending still strong, but wages lag
Despite the squeeze, Americans continue to open their wallets. Bank of America Institute data shows credit and debit card spending per household rose 6.2 percent in September. Lower-income households and the top 5 percent saw the fastest growth, at 5.5 percent and 5.9 percent respectively. Yet spending outpaced wage growth, with lower-income wages rising only 4.5 percent in September, down from 4.7 percent the prior month.
Trump's cash-flush promises
Trump has tried to counter the gloom with direct payments. He reiterated a pledge to send every American adult a $5,000 dividend if Republicans keep Congress, claiming tariff revenue can fund it. The Treasury has also begun mailing $500 checks to nearly a million people overcharged for health insurance, and about 20 million Medicare recipients will get an extra $90 this month to cover Part B premiums.
On energy and food, the administration has struck an oil deal with Venezuela, secured a Russian diesel supply arrangement—a move that has sparked GOP backlash—and slashed beef tariffs on imports from Argentina and Brazil.
But some Republicans doubt these measures will shift the economic narrative in time. “They have to be perceived by voters as being real and tangible,” said GOP strategist Ron Bonjean. “It doesn't feel like it's penetrated yet to that level.”
Midterm stakes
The sour mood gives Democrats an opening. The NewsNation/DDHQ poll shows Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot 49 percent to 42 percent, just inside the margin of error. More than half of respondents said they plan to vote to oppose Trump and his policies.
Republicans face the classic challenge of the party in power during an uneasy economy, a dynamic that has historically hurt the president's party in midterms. The full poll results will be discussed Tuesday night on NewsNation's “Decision Desk 2026 Have Your Say” town hall, with guests including Rahm Emanuel, Stephen A. Smith, and Steve Bannon.
As the campaign enters its final weeks, the question is whether Trump's targeted cash infusions and trade deals can convince voters that relief is on the way—or whether the perception of Washington's disconnect on everyday costs will prove decisive.
