Health care costs drove voters' cost-of-living concerns during the midterm elections, deciding congressional and senate races across the United States.
NORC reported that about half of voters overall said the cost of living influenced their vote for Congress. This sentiment rose to about six in ten among those voting for Democratic House candidates, compared to fewer than four in ten for Republican House candidates.
When evaluating personal financial situations, roughly six in ten voters reported being very concerned about gas and diesel, health care, and food and groceries. NORC said that concerns about health care costs rose by five percentage points compared to the presidential election. Meanwhile, worries about gas and diesel climbed eleven percentage points, and concerns about food and grocery costs declined by eight percentage points.
Partisan Divides in Voter Priorities
Voter priorities varied notably depending on political alignment. NORC found that about two-thirds or more of Democratic House voters expressed concern over the costs of gas, health care, and groceries, whereas only about four in ten Republican House voters reported similar levels of anxiety.
While health care ranked as the second most important issue for Democratic House voters, those supporting Republican House candidates selected immigration as a top issue. NORC data showed that health care was the second most selected issue among voters overall, with about four in ten stating it was an important factor in their vote.
Shifting Dynamics in Key Battleground States
Democratic Senate candidates secured a strong advantage among voters deeply concerned about health care costs, according to NORC.
Approximately two-thirds of voters across seven battleground states who were very concerned about health care costs cast their ballots for the Democratic Senate candidate. In contrast, about three in ten within this same demographic supported the Republican Senate candidate. This outcome marks a reversal from the presidential election, when voters expressing similar health care cost worries favored President Trump over Vice President Harris by a ten-point margin.
Bipartisan Demand for Affordability Solutions
In response to the election outcomes, advocacy groups have urged federal and state lawmakers to address underlying financial pressures. Natalie Davis, CEO and co-founder of United States of Care, said that “while elections always seem to highlight what divides us, people are united in their demand for health care they can afford,” according to United States of Care.
Davis emphasized that policymakers must take action on growing expenses. “While leadership has changed, what doesn’t change is this – Congress and state policymakers must take action to address the growing cost of health care, and there’s strong bipartisan consensus behind doing it,” Davis told United States of Care.
The organization’s survey indicated that 76% of respondents viewed health care as a top-three voting issue, while 78% supported an increased government role in the health sector.
| Voter Metric / Issue | Overall Voter Share | Democratic House Voters | Republican House Voters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living “Crucial” to Vote | about half | about six in ten | fewer than four in ten |
| Very Concerned: Health Care Costs | about six in ten | about two-thirds or more | about four in ten |
| Economy and Jobs as Top Issue | about six in ten | Not specified | Not specified |
Lawmakers Should Address Hospital Fees and Price Transparency
Proposed measures include limiting hospital facility fees, establishing site-neutral payment policies, and strengthening price transparency requirements to prevent unexpected medical bills.
Additional recommendations from advocacy stakeholders include standardizing insurance benefits, establishing oversight mechanisms for premiums, and increasing regulatory scrutiny over health care mergers and acquisitions. United States of Care said that lawmakers should follow states already taking action to build a more reliable and affordable health care system.
References
- NORC. Civic Health and Elections Project poll and analysis on 2026 midterm election trends.
- United States of Care. Statement on the 2026 Midterm Elections and Policy Recommendations.
Disclaimer: This reporting is based on public opinion polling, electoral data, and organizational statements compiled by NORC and United States of Care. It is intended for informational and public health intelligence purposes only.
