For numerous US voters, the economy is a personal issue, and they hold the Democrats responsible
Iesha Blackwell, 24, voted for Joe Biden in 2020 but plans to cast her ballot for Republican former President Donald Trump this year, citing high food and housing prices as a primary reason. Living southwest of Detroit in the battleground state of Michigan, Blackwell says that although she has a better job now, her rent has doubled after a forced move, and her grocery and utility bills have skyrocketed.
“I’m not worse off than I was four years ago,” Blackwell said at a rally featuring Trump’s running mate JD Vance in Detroit this month. “But compared to then, prices are really, really high. My rent went from $575 to $1,100. I remember ground chuck being $2.99 a pound, and now it’s $4.99. Everything is more expensive.”
The United States’ post-COVID-19 economic recovery has been impressive, with strong consumer spending and business and federal investment helping the economy avoid a predicted recession. Stock markets are at record highs, jobs and wages are growing quickly, unemployment is low, and inflation has dropped below January 2020 levels after a spike in 2022.
However, prices for food, rent, utilities, and luxuries like dining out remain significantly higher than in 2019. This is due to complex factors beyond the U.S. government’s control, such as labor costs, lack of competition, and supply chain issues. Many Americans are experiencing constant sticker shock.
This may explain why voters in the seven battleground states crucial to the November 5 election have a negative perception of the economy. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll this month, 61% believe the economy is on the wrong track, and 68% feel the cost of living is heading in the wrong direction.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and Trump have proposed different solutions. Harris has pledged to combat price gouging and enhance the child tax credit, while Trump has suggested cutting taxes on overtime pay, imposing blanket tariffs on imports to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and mass deportation of immigrants.
Many economists argue that Trump’s proposed tariffs and deportation policies will increase prices for goods and services, while Harris’ federal-level price-gouging ban remains untested.
Despite this, when asked which candidate had the better approach to issues, Trump led on the economy with 46% compared to Harris’ 38%, according to this month’s Reuters poll. Economists acknowledge voters’ frustration, even if they doubt Trump’s plan will be effective.
“I understand inflation better than the average person, and I’ve worked at the Fed, but I’m still surprised at how much inflation upsets me,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who has previously criticized Trump’s tariff plans. “When I walk into a restaurant I’ve frequented for years and see the bill go from $50 to $70, it feels like someone punched me in the face and stole $20 from my wallet.”
Blackwell, the Michigan voter, supports Trump’s argument that tariffs are necessary to keep out imports and protect U.S. jobs. “Yes, it could increase prices for consumers, but in the long run, something has to be done,” she said.