Housing costs top political issue for young voters, CNBC survey finds

The cost of housing is the top political issue among U.S. voters ages 18 to 34, ranking higher than the cost of food or the cost of preserving democracy, according to a CNBC poll.

CNBC’s All-American Economic Survey The second-quarter 2026 survey of 1,000 registered voters nationwide found the cost of housing to be a glaring issue, especially among the types of young voters both parties hope to court heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

“It’s been my contention, and some others’, that Democrats are missing out big in 2024 by not talking more about health care. This is an issue on which Democrats have long had an advantage in the polls.” he said. Jay CampbellThe poll’s Democratic pollster is a partner at Hart Research.

“I think housing could be the healthcare of 2024, especially given the need for Democrats to get anti-Trump and pro-democracy young people out,” Campbell said.

According to survey participants interviewed between July 8 and 12, housing and healthcare costs are tied for the fourth most important issue currently facing the country, behind food and grocery costs, preserving democracy, immigration and border security. This was the most important issue for male respondents aged 18 to 49, and the second most important issue after food and groceries costs for respondents of all genders aged 35 to 49.

Housing concerns stem from factors such as income-related expenses and rising mortgage costs due to increased insurance and property taxes. According to a June report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Research, 49 percent of renting households spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. According to the report, 12.1 million of these 22.7 million households pay more than half of their income on housing.

The importance of housing costs is somewhat divided along partisan lines. Self-identified Democrats surveyed said it was the third most important issue, behind only the cost of food and preserving democracy. Independents also give the highest priority to food costs and democracy, followed by immigration and border security, with housing costs coming in fourth place.

Republicans, meanwhile, rank the issue lower among their priorities, focusing instead on immigration, food prices and Iran.

Affordable choice

Affordability and cost of living were buzzwords that dominated the midterms, and both parties tried to embrace the housing issue.

A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing housing supply, lowering the cost of renting or buying a home, and limiting the role of private equity in the housing market emerged from Congress with overwhelming support in June.

The bill’s passage could lead to a victory lap for Republicans who control both the halls of Congress and the White House. But President Donald Trump canceled the planned signing ceremony at the Capitol on such short notice that he refused to sign the bill, which he later referred to as “”.big yawn“

The bill became law earlier this month even without Trump’s approval based on a technicality.

Democrats said it was the latest example of Trump and Republicans’ failure to prioritize the cost of living as the president returns to Iran war themes and passes a national voter ID law.

Democrats widely anticipated Winning back the House of Representatives when the path to a Senate majority is tougher. According to the CNBC survey, they also have an advantage in housing.

38 percent of respondents said Democrats would do a better job on housing, while 32 percent approved of Republicans. Among respondents who ranked housing cost as their top two issues, 53% said Democrats would do a better job than Republicans.

Frustration over housing costs follows a broader trend of consumer anxiety amid inflation and war with Iran. 60 percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 63 percent disapprove of the situation with Iran, and 68 percent say they disapprove of the administration’s work on inflation and the cost of living.

When asked who they would prefer to control Congress after the midterm elections, respondents gave Democrats a slight edge over Republicans, 49 percent to 45 percent. The survey’s margin of error is 3.1%.

“Americans are struggling with rising rents, unaffordable home prices and high mortgage rates—all happening under Republican administration,” Viet Shelton, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement. he said. “Voters are blaming Republicans for broken promises to lower housing costs, and Trump’s refusal to address this affordability crisis has left vulnerable Republicans looking like bumbling stooges who can’t solve budget problems.”

Shelton said the perception that “Republicans don’t care” provides Democrats with an opportunity.

However, Republicans are not ready to compromise on this issue and stated that Trump refrained from signing the bill but did not veto it as he could have done.

“Democrats have spent years fueling the housing crisis with their failed policies. Republicans have taken real steps to build more homes, lower costs, and help more families achieve the American Dream,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement. he said.

— CNBC’s Diana Olick contributed to this report.