Objective:

To examine rural voters' perspectives on rising living costs, including healthcare expenses, as the midterm elections approach.

Approach:

• Survey Methodology: The survey was conducted online and by telephone from August 12 through 24, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 2,241 U.S. adults registered to vote in rural areas.

Key Findings:

• Concerns about the cost of living among rural voters have intensified, with 75% describing it as 'fair' or 'poor', a 25 percentage point increase since 2017.
• Health costs and gas prices are significant concerns for rural voters regarding household expenses.
• 40% of rural voters believe the Republican Party is better equipped to address living costs compared to 25% for the Democratic Party, while 27% trust neither party.

Interpretation:

Rural voters are increasingly anxious about living expenses, which may impact their voting motivation, particularly among Republicans.

Limitations:

• The margin of sampling error for the full rural-voter sample is plus or minus three percentage points, which may be greater for subgroups.

Conclusion:

The survey highlights significant economic concerns among rural voters, particularly regarding healthcare and living costs, ahead of the elections.

Sources:

• KFF Health News
• Associated Press