Rising cost of living tops voters’ concerns as midterm ballots cast

The rising cost of living and dissatisfaction with President Trump are the top concerns for nearly half of voters heading into Tuesday’s midterm elections , according to a new survey.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll , released late Monday, found that 48 percent of registered voters ranked the cost of living as the most important factor in deciding their vote, far outpacing concerns about democracy, at 26 percent, and immigration, at 13 percent.

The findings highlight the economic frustrations facing Republicans as they fight to maintain control of Congress amid difficult political terrain. Many Americans reported that their household finances have deteriorated since Trump returned to the White House.

Nearly half of Americans, 49 percent, said their financial situation has worsened during Trump’s second term, compared with just 13 percent who said it has improved. Another 37 percent reported little change, the data shows.

The economic pessimism was particularly strong among Hispanic respondents, with 54 percent saying their finances had worsened under the Trump administration, while just 10 percent reported an improvement.

Americans have also grappled with higher fuel prices tied to the unpopular U.S.-Israeli war with Iran — which entered its eighth month heading into the elections, adding to broader concerns about affordability.

The national average price for a gallon of gas sits at $4.15 as of Tuesday morning, according to AAA , up more than a dollar from a year ago.

The Iran conflict itself has also become a political liability for the president. Just 25 percent of voters said the military operations against Iran have been worth their costs, compared with 55 percent who said they have not. Another 18 percent were unsure, the survey found.

The cost of the U.S.’s war against Iran has risen to $47 billion — up $3 billion from September — with the biggest chunk of the cost going to munition replacement.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,765 U.S. adults ahead of Election Day. It has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.