Trump Rallies Push Economy Message as Prices Rise Ahead of Midterms

With three weeks until the midterms, Democrats are pointing to a wave of voter frustration over grocery bills, gas prices and health insurance costs that are squeezing households across the political spectrum. Republicans are responding with an unprecedented financial advantage in key races, hoping paid advertising can offset the economic discontent that polls show is eroding support even among some Trump voters.

An exclusive Harris poll for the Guardian found that 65 percent of independents now say the economy is worse, up sharply from a year earlier. Three-quarters of Americans expressed concern about a recession, and 61 percent incorrectly believe one has already begun. Grocery and gas prices ranked as the top issues for two-thirds of those surveyed. An AP-NORC poll similarly showed eight in ten voters naming the economy or cost of living among their top priorities.

Voters who backed Trump in 2024 are voicing regret in focus groups and call-in shows. In Georgia, NPR spoke with 12 people who switched from Biden to Trump; ten said they now regret the choice. One described inflation worsening, tariffs failing to help and the Iran conflict expanding. In Pennsylvania, a self-employed Trump supporter told SiriusXM he trusted the president “1,000 percent” but is now “angry” over insurance premiums that feel like a mortgage payment and gas prices that make it hard to make ends meet.

Trump has countered by claiming low inflation and a booming economy during rallies in Montana and Arizona. Supporters at those events, however, described combining errands to save fuel and struggling to afford basics despite multiple family members working full time. Consumer prices rose 3.7 percent over the past year, with food costs up 2.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Democratic campaign committees have framed the election around these “kitchen table” pressures and tied them to administration priorities. House and Senate Democratic super PACs are warning that Republican outside groups hold a spending edge large enough to bury other advantages in paid media. Democratic leaders are seeking an additional $55 million in the final stretch to compete in districts that would otherwise be out of reach.

Republicans have made Trump the centerpiece of their closing argument, urging supporters to treat every race as a referendum on him. The president’s approval rating has fallen to 32 percent in recent surveys, dragged down by the ongoing Iran conflict and persistent price increases. Even some Republican voters now report lower optimism about the economy than they expressed shortly after Trump took office.

The cash disparity gives Republicans a clear tactical edge in the final weeks. Whether that spending can overcome widespread voter frustration with living costs will determine if the party can limit losses in a midterm environment that has historically punished the president’s side.