Washington– Economic concerns were the top concern as voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s election, according to preliminary results of an AP Voter Poll.
The results of the expanded poll, which included more than 17,000 voters in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City, indicate that the public is disturbed by an economy that appears to be besieged by high prices and lack of job opportunities.
A year after President Donald Trump returned to the White House promising he could tame inflation and unleash growth, economic concerns were still at the top of voters’ minds. Although the stock market is rising, inflation remains high, and the employment rate has slowed sharply. Since October, the federal government shutdown has exacerbated feelings of uncertainty.
While Trump tried to highlight his efforts to deport immigrants in the country illegally and send federal officers and National Guard troops into cities to fight crime, a small number of voters saw those issues as a greater concern for where they live.
These broader economic concerns have been accompanied by significant dissatisfaction in some off-year elections. More than half of voters in New Jersey and Virginia said they were “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the way things are going in the country.
Economic challenges have emerged in different ways at the local level. Most voters in New Jersey said property taxes were a “big problem,” while most voters in New York City said so regarding the cost of housing. Most Virginia voters said they felt at least some impact from the federal government’s recent cuts.
Voters mostly said their finances were stable, but the poll results indicate that many feel they cannot get ahead in the current economy. This makes them feel stuck where they are, rather than moving up the financial ladder.
About 6 in 10 voters in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City said their household finances were “stable,” but relatively few felt they were “getting ahead,” and about a quarter said they were “falling behind.”
About half of Virginia voters, who were The choice is between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earl SearsThey said that the economy is the most important issue facing their country. Only 2 in 10 cited health care, about 1 in 10 cited education or immigration, and even fewer said crime was the main issue facing the Commonwealth.
Most voters in New Jersey, who were The choice is between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mickey SherrillThey said that taxes or the economy were the most important issue in their state. About a third of voters mentioned each of these issues, compared with about 2 in 10 who mentioned this for health care. Fewer than 1 in 10 identified immigration or crime as major issues.
Just over half of New York City voters said the cost of living is the most important issue in the city — with the cost of rent and the level of income inequality rising in America’s most populous city. Democratic candidate Zahran Mamdani is running against Andrew CuomoFormer New York Governor and Republican Curtis Sliwa. About a quarter said crime was their main concern. Another 1 in 10 said this was related to immigration, and less than 1 in 10 cited health care or transportation as the main issue.
The poll showed a high level of discontent with America’s direction as a country in several states, a sign that few voters have felt reassured so far after Trump’s return to the White House.
The Democratic-led state of California asked its residents to vote Tuesday on a plan to redraw congressional district lines, after Trump pushed Republican states like Texas to adjust their district boundaries in hopes of helping GOP candidates in next year’s midterm elections.
About half of California voters described themselves as “angry” about the direction the country is headed, while 2 in 10 said they were “dissatisfied.”
About 6 in 10 voters in Virginia and New Jersey said they were “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the way things are in the country today. Only a third said they were “excited” or “satisfied.”
People worry about affordability, but this manifests itself in different ways.
And in Virginia, the federal government layoffs and funding cuts initiated by the Trump administration appear to be taking their toll. Nearly 6 in 10 voters said the federal government’s cuts this year affected their household finances “a lot” or “a little.” These economic problems could worsen if the shutdown continues and federal employees and contractors are forced to go unpaid.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, property taxes and electricity costs were raising concerns. About 7 in 10 New Jersey voters called property tax rates where they live a “big problem,” and about 6 in 10 said that about their utility bills. Sherrill, a Democrat, has used cost-of-living issues to attack Trump, while Chiattarelli suggested that tax cuts would help ease inflation.
In New York City, about 7 in 10 voters said the cost of housing where they live is a “big problem,” and renters are particularly likely to point to this issue. A smaller number of voters described crime as a “big problem” in the city.
—
the 2025 AP Voter Pollconducted by SSRS from October 22 to November 4, includes representative samples of registered voters in California (4,490), New Jersey (4,336), New York City (4,943), and Virginia (4,817). The AP Voter poll combines data collected from verified registered voters online and by phone, with data collected in person from voters on Election Day in about 30 precincts per state or city, excluding California. Respondents can complete the survey in English or Spanish. The overall margin of voter sampling error, taking into account the design effect, is plus or minus 2.0 percentage points in California, 2.0 percentage points in New Jersey, 2.1 percentage points in New York City, and 1.9 percentage points in Virginia.