Survey: Voters Feel ‘Worse Off’ Compared to Early 2025
President Donald Trump has a personality problem, according to the latest Voters Trend Report from Resonate, a technology company combines big data and psychographic survey studies to develop an understanding of consumer motivations. Survey responses found that half of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with his personal behavior. Only 13% are satisfied, leaving more than a third (36%) still on the fence.
“In battleground suburbs, specifically where independents and swing voters tend to cluster, even modest shifts here could play a role in decision outcomes,” said Bob Brennan, SVP, Political and Advocacy Partnerships at Resonate. “Economic volatility persists through this summer with roughly three in four voters still viewing the economy poorly and reporting feeling personally worse off compared to early 2025.”
Brennan said that in competitive districts, these types of perceptions of financial strain can swing margins by thousands of votes, leading both of these issues to be pivotal in tight elections. He sat down with StreetFight to expound on the findings.
Beyond economic anxiety what political or social issues are emerging as top concerns among voters?
Corruption. Concern climbed early in the year, now back to late‑2024 levels, indicating persistent worry. Extreme weather/natural disasters are top of mind. A notable ~20% cite this as a top‑of‑mind concern for the next six months.
What are the most surprising shifts in voter sentiment that emerged this summer, and how do they diverge from the broader public narrative?
We’ve seen a slew of media headlines since spring revolving around President Trump’s tariff announcements and the pauses that came with them. National media have consistently cast tariffs as a looming cost-of-living crisis by warning the public of higher grocery bills and product shortages. Yet our data shows most voters aren’t feeling that pain on a personal level, with six in 10 saying they don’t experience shortages and are spending money the same way they did pre-tariffs.
Another surprise is around social justice and DEI debates, which are still driving polarization and activism. Voters themselves aren’t intensely prioritizing this issue.
The report mentions tariffs and trade issues. How are these economic forces influencing voter priorities?
Tariffs and trade policy are beginning to register more strongly in voter sentiment in the context of financial concerns. While we’re seeing more headlines focusing on inflation rates, wages, and unemployment, our data suggests that trade-related pressures are a more subtle but increasingly growing driver of economic unease. For many voters, especially the persuadable sectors, tariffs are reinforcing that their personal financial situations are getting worse, even as the broader economy generally shows signs of stability right now. Overall, voters are viewing tariffs and trade less as political debates and more so as everyday wallet issues, which drives stronger demand for policies that ease the cost of living for Americans.
The report touches on early favorability indicators for potential 2026 and 2028 contenders. Which figures are resonating most with persuadable voters, and what issues are key to their appeal?
We’re seeing early signals that favorability is being shaped less by strong enthusiasm and more by the persuadable “middle ground” voter sentiment. Several figures who stand out are Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk, and J.D. Vance, each registering a mix of modest, favorable ratings with unusually high amounts of voters in the “neutral” or “don’t know enough” categories.
This indicates a large potential for these figures to grow their support base. Some issues that could appeal to voters center around prescription drug affordability, with over a quarter (28%) calling for improved drug safety, costs, and access. Cultural divides also present another opportunity for these figures, as banning DEI initiatives has been a focal point for Trump and the current administration; however public opinion is far from settled, with most voters evenly split on the subject.
Tell me about the “two Gen Zs” phenomenon.
Our report uncovers a clear cleavage within Gen Z: a vocal segment deeply engaged in social issues, and a larger cohort primarily focused on affordability and economic stability. Election data confirms that the economy, especially cost of living and inflation, was Gen Z’s top issue heading into 2024, with jobs second in importance, outranking purely social or cultural concerns. Democrats, in many cases, targeted the vocal social‑issue segment but missed that most Gen Z voters were driven by pragmatic economic concerns. That divide influenced both turnout and vote choice and is being picked up clearly in our data in real time.
Are there shifts toward topics like DEI, privacy, or ideological realignments that you believe campaigns should be tracking closely?
DEI remains a live, unsettled debate—with a large persuadable middle: 29.9% support higher‑ed DEI bans, 33.8% oppose, and 36.3% are unsure. On the broader question of ending all government DEI programs, 46.2% oppose, 27.5% support, and 26.4% are persuadable. These sizable “on‑the‑fence” shares underscore that DEI remains very much in play. Privacy concerns are emerging but don’t yet match DEI in traction.
What should political and advocacy campaigns be adjusting in their messaging or target outreach based on your latest findings?
Based on the Resonate report, P&A campaigns have opportunities to sharpen messaging to reflect what voters truly feel day to day. Americans continue to view the state of the economy from a personal perspective, perhaps how affordable life feels to them today and whether they are better or worse off than they were coming into 2025.
