Republican operatives applaud President Trump's emphasis on crime while internal polling and focus groups show persistent and growing voter concern about inflation and rising costs. A GOP-aligned polling release found 25% of voters name inflation as the most important issue, outpacing government corruption. Senate Republicans confront perceptions that the party is not sufficiently addressing shortages and price pressures on drugs, groceries and toys. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found only 34% approve of Trump's handling of inflation and two-thirds expect costs to stay the same or worsen. GOP strategists are urging 2026 candidates to emphasize actions taken to curb inflation, including the administration's major legislative package, which they say will lower consumer costs.
A conservative group aligned with congressional GOP leadership has been distributing polling data to Hill Republicans that shows 25% of voters view inflation as the most important issue facing the country. That's more than double the percentage of the second-ranked concern - government corruption - according to the polling by the GOP firm GrayHouse. Senate Republicans also are being confronted with polling that indicates voters see the party as not focused enough on rising costs and the prospect of shortages of items such as drugs, groceries and toys. Party operatives have conducted focus groups in which voters express support for Trump's moves on foreign policy but want more efforts to counter inflation.
A recent Economist/YouGov survey similarly showed costs as the single most important issue to voters - including among those who voted for Trump last year. Only 34% of all voters said they approved of Trump's handling of inflation, and more than two-thirds of all voters said they thought inflation would be the same or worse six months from now. Behind the scenes: GOP strategists are aggressively pushing the party's 2026 candidates to talk about inflation, which they worry hasn't been part of many candidates' messaging. They want candidates to describe the steps the party has taken to curb inflation - namely its passage of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which they argue will ultimately lower consumer costs.
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