The Economy Strengthens Its Hold as Americans’ Top Priority, While Healthcare and Immigration Remain Key Concerns

As Donald Trump completes his first 100 days in office amid global uncertainty and bold domestic reforms, American voters remain focused on the issues which matter to them most – the economy, healthcare and immigration. The latest polling reveals a notable surge in concern over the economy which is now cited by 71% of voters as a top-three issue, an 8-point rise from last month’s poll. This sharp rise comes as the U.S. economy shrunk by 0.3% in the first quarter, a stark reversal from the 2.4% growth posted in the previous quarter. Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and economic shake-ups appear to be rattling voter confidence, fuelling a renewed sense of financial anxiety across the electorate. Whilst economic fears dominate, healthcare and immigration continue to hold firm as major concerns but subtle shifts in priority across demographics and party lines hint at evolving public anxieties as Trump’s administration presses ahead with sweeping changes.

The Economy: A Growing Concern Across the Electorate

Once again, the economy dominates the U.S. political landscape, with 71% of Americans naming it as one of their top three issues, up from 63% in the last poll. This is the highest percentage change out of all the issues and the resurgence underscores deepening public concern about financial stability, rising costs and the ripple effects of Trump’s economic policies, including tariff hikes and sweeping tax reform.

Support for the economy as the top issue is remarkably consistent across nearly every demographic. It is cited by 70% of men and 72% of women, with minimal gender disparity. Across age groups, focus on the economy is strongest among older voters as 71% of those aged 65 and above and 76% of voters aged 55–64 prioritise it. Even younger voters show strong concern with 68% of 18–24-year-olds listing it as a top issue, up from 50% in the previous poll, a huge 18-point increase.

Partisan differences for most issues are clear but they remain muted when it comes to the economy. Among Trump voters, 72% say the economy is their leading concern, while 71% of Harris voters agree, emphasising that, despite intense political polarisation elsewhere, economic anxiety is a unifying force. This broad-based concern reflects ongoing unease about inflation, job security and the affordability of essential goods, even as Trump’s team hails their policies as pro-growth and protective of American workers.

Healthcare: Remains the Second Most Important Issue

Healthcare retains its position as the second-most important national issue, selected by 37% of voters, only a slight dip from 39% previously. The issue remains particularly salient among women (41%) compared to men (33%). Younger voters (38% of those aged 18–24) are also notably engaged, matching concern among voters over 65 (38%), showing that healthcare anxiety is not confined to older Americans.

The partisan split on healthcare remains stark. Nearly half (46%) of Harris voters cite healthcare as a top concern, reflecting their traditional alignment with policies to protect and expand coverage. Among Trump voters, healthcare ranks lower at 29%, a drop from last month’s 32%, suggesting that Trump’s base may be more focused on other priorities such as the economy and immigration.

This enduring concern is likely fuelled by Trump’s push to dismantle remaining elements of the Affordable Care Act, his shifting plans for replacement and persistent worries over prescription drug prices and insurance coverage gaps.

Immigration: Holding Steady But Divided by Party

Immigration remains the third-most important national issue, holding steady at 30%, one of the few issues remaining unchanged from the last poll. However, within this consistency lie notable partisan and generational divides. Immigration is a dominant concern for 48% of Trump voters, making it the second-most cited issue after the economy within his base. In contrast, only 15% of Harris voters identify immigration as a priority, underscoring the ideological gulf between Republicans and Democrats on border security, asylum policy and the status of undocumented immigrants.

Older voters are the most concerned with immigration, with 39% of those aged 65+ listing it as a top issue, compared to just 31% of 18–24-year-olds. Trump’s continued emphasis on strict border enforcement and immigration crackdowns is clearly resonating with his base and older Americans, though younger voters seem less focused on this issue.

Abortion, the Environment and Other Issues: Lower But Significant

Abortion continues to resonate, selected by 20% of Americans, slightly down from 24% previously but still a significant concern, particularly among Harris voters (25%). The environment (17%), housing (15%) and taxation (19%) also maintain a notable presence in the rankings, indicating that while economic and health concerns dominate, social and environmental issues continue to play a role.

The latest data reinforces the centrality of domestic issues to American voters, with the economy’s importance growing even stronger over the past month. Healthcare and immigration remain entrenched as key concerns, with deep partisan divides sharpening the focus on these issues. Despite Trump’s sweeping foreign and trade agendas, it is clear that voters are laser-focused on the matters that directly affect their daily lives and these will likely continue to shape the political landscape as the administration presses ahead.

Download the data tables for this poll.