Bipartisan lawmakers cite federal deficit ahead of midterms

Americans across the political spectrum share deep concern about the federal deficit, with similar majorities of both Democrats and Republicans calling it a very big problem for the country. A Pew Research Center poll of more than 5,000 adults found 66 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Republicans view the deficit in those terms.

The alignment stands in contrast to more divided opinions on healthcare costs, inflation and jobs. The national debt exceeded $39 trillion in March, just five months after crossing the $38 trillion mark. Officials spend tens of billions of dollars each week on interest payments alone, a burden that risks limiting funding for programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Rising debt reduces the government's ability to invest in infrastructure, education, public health and research. It could also discourage foreign investment in U.S. assets, pushing up borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans and other consumer debt.

Higher debt levels tend to inject more money into the economy, which researchers link to increased prices over time. Both parties have presided over debt increases in recent decades while frequently criticizing the other's approach to fiscal policy.

A survey by the Peter G.

Peterson Foundation last month showed 94 percent of Democrats and 89 percent of Republicans believe the national debt is raising their cost of living, including prices for groceries and electricity. Most voters said they would be more likely to support a candidate with a clear plan to address the debt, even if it meant crossing party lines.

The Pew poll found slightly larger shares of Americans view healthcare affordability and inflation as big problems than the deficit, yet those issues split sharply along partisan lines. Seventy-four percent of Democrats called inflation a pressing concern compared with 55 percent of Republicans, while 85 percent of Democrats expressed worry about healthcare costs against 60 percent of Republicans.

A Gallup poll conducted in March showed 47 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Democrats ranked federal spending and the deficit as a major concern, the closest the parties came on any issue except terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten told viewers on Tuesday that Republicans remain firmly in contention for the 2026 congressional midterms despite polling that shows widespread blame directed at the current administration for higher living costs. " — Harry Enten, CNN (May 2026) Aggregate polling on the generic congressional ballot shows the Democratic advantage has narrowed from roughly six points in March of last year to three points now, a margin within the statistical margin of error.

Enten noted that while one recent survey found 77 percent of Americans hold the president responsible for increased living expenses, that dissatisfaction has not translated into a significantly stronger position for the opposition party. Polling on which party voters trust more to handle the economy stands at a tie among registered voters.

>"Just because Donald Trump is unpopular doesn’t make Democrats popular. " — Harry Enten, CNN (May 2026) Research published in the Journal of Politics in 2021 suggested that much of the animosity between party supporters is directed at exaggerated stereotypes rather than actual voters, and that exposure to more representative samples tends to soften those views.

The shared worry over national debt may reflect underlying agreement on several economic pressures that affect households regardless of political affiliation. Seven in 10 voters this year want candidates to provide more detail on plans to slow the growth of the national debt, according to the Peterson Foundation survey.

Both parties are expected to emphasize the issue in the months leading to the November midterms.