Many Would Switch Votes for ‘Affordability’ Plan

Some voters would cross party lines in the midterm elections if the opposing party offered a better plan for lowering the cost of living.

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and Our Republic finds that, among Likely U.S voters who currently support Democratic congressional candidates, 19% would vote Republican instead if they believed the GOP had the best plan to lower the cost of groceries, gasoline, and clothing. Sixteen percent (16%) of such voters said they would switch parties over a Republican plan they believed was best for lowering housing costs. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

Republican voters are less likely to cross party lines. Eleven percent (11%) of those who currently support Republican congressional candidates would vote Democratic if Democrats had the best plan for lowering the cost of groceries, gasoline, and clothing, while eight percent (8%) would switch over housing costs.

Among voters currently supporting another candidate or unsure about their congressional choice, 35% say they would vote for whichever party has the best plan to lower the cost of groceries, gasoline, and clothing. Twenty-four percent (24%) say the same about housing costs.

“It’s still the economy, stupid!” said Justin Haskins, president and senior fellow at Our Republic.

“These results clearly suggest that economic issues will play an important role in determining who ultimately wins the 2026 election. Significant numbers of voters say they are willing to cross party lines if the other party offers what they believe is a better plan for lowering the cost of everyday necessities, including housing, groceries, gasoline, and clothing.”

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The survey of 1,026 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on September 20, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports and Our Republic. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Among those surveyed, 49% would vote for the Democratic candidate and 43% would vote Republican if the congressional election were held today.

The survey also found that five percent (5%) of Democratic likely voters and seven percent (7%) of Republican likely voters would break an election law – such as voting more than once or voting in a state where they no longer live – if they believed they were unlikely to be caught and doing so would help their party win more congressional seats.

“With the margin of victory in many key races expected to be razor-thin in November, these findings highlight the need for Congress to pass common-sense election security reforms,” Haskins said.

The poll also found a sharp partisan divide over proposals to expand the U.S. Supreme Court. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of those who prefer Democratic congressional candidates say they would support significantly increasing the number of Supreme Court seats if Democrats controlled Congress and won the presidency in 2028. By comparison, just 11% of Republican voters said they would support expanding the Court if Republicans retained control of Congress.

Among other findings of the Rasmussen Reports/Our Republican survey:

– Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely Voters would support a proposal to make Washington, D.C., a state, while 54% oppose statehood for the District of Columbia and 17% are not sure. Forty-six percent (46%) of Democrats favor D.C. statehood, but that opinion is shared by only 13% of Republicans and 27% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

– Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely Voters would support a proposal to end the Electoral College and instead make all presidential elections determined by a national popular vote, while 45% disagree and 13% are not sure. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats favor ending the Electoral College, but 72% of Republicans are opposed. Unaffiliated voters are almost evenly divided, with 42% in favor and 41% against eliminating the Electoral College.

– By a 13-point margin, women voters are more likely to say they would vote for Democrats (53%) than Republicans (40%) in the congressional midterms. Men favor Republicans by a 47% to 44% margin.

– Forty-seven percent (47%) of whites, 64% of black voters, 48% of Hispanics and 38% of other minorities say that, if the congressional election were held today, they would vote for the Democratic candidate. Forty-seven percent (47%) of whites, 21% of black voters, 35% of Hispanics and 61% of other minorities would vote Republican.

Our Republic is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan research organization dedicated to the advancement of important values related to human rights and freedom. 

More voters trust Democrats to handle immigration, an issue where Republicans had led for many years.

The Democratic Party’s lead over Republicans has narrowed in the battle to control the House of Representatives.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as to Platinum Members.

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