@DataProgress

Equipping the progressive movement with the data and insights it needs to win.

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Joined January 2018
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Heading into the 2026 midterms, financial stress is at the forefront of voters’ minds. A new Data for Progress survey finds that the factor most correlated with voters’ financial stress is their level of debt — the strongest relationship of any measure we tested.
To investigate how different dimensions of socioeconomic status impact voters’ levels of financial stress, a Data for Progress survey asked voters to self-report their current amount of “financial stress,” and also measured six dimensions of socioeconomic status: household debt burden, household income, month-to-month income variability, network reliability in the event of job loss, self-described occupational prestige, and self-reported class identity. Voters were divided into “low,” “middle,” and “high” groups for each of these six indicators. Debt burden stands out clearly as most correlated with financial stress, with a correlation of 0.52 — by far the strongest relationship of any measure we tested. Self-reported class (-0.39) is the next strongest, followed by network reliability (-0.36) and income (-0.35). Occupational prestige and income variability are the least related to financial stress.

ALT To investigate how different dimensions of socioeconomic status impact voters’ levels of financial stress, a Data for Progress survey asked voters to self-report their current amount of “financial stress,” and also measured six dimensions of socioeconomic status: household debt burden, household income, month-to-month income variability, network reliability in the event of job loss, self-described occupational prestige, and self-reported class identity. Voters were divided into “low,” “middle,” and “high” groups for each of these six indicators. Debt burden stands out clearly as most correlated with financial stress, with a correlation of 0.52 — by far the strongest relationship of any measure we tested. Self-reported class (-0.39) is the next strongest, followed by network reliability (-0.36) and income (-0.35). Occupational prestige and income variability are the least related to financial stress.

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More than 4 in 10 voters want approvals for roads and bridges, solar farms, and wind farms to be sped up. And more than 4 in 10 voters want data center development to be slowed down.
Bar chart from Data for Progress: Voters want roads, bridges, and clean energy projects sped up. Share of voters who say each type of infrastructure development should be sped up / remain the same / slowed down / don't know: Roads and bridges: 54 / 28 / 8 / 11 Solar farms: 42 / 28 / 18 / 12 Wind farms: 41 / 27 / 19 / 13 Electric transmission lines: 28 / 41 / 16 / 16 Oil pipelines: 26 / 36 / 24 / 14 Natural gas plants: 26 / 42 / 16 / 17 Geothermal plants: 25 / 37 / 16 / 23 Nuclear plants: 22 / 35 / 28 / 15 Data centers: 18 / 27 / 44 / 11 Coal plants: 16 / 33 / 34 / 16 Survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters, Oct. 9–13, 2026.

ALT Bar chart from Data for Progress: Voters want roads, bridges, and clean energy projects sped up. Share of voters who say each type of infrastructure development should be sped up / remain the same / slowed down / don't know: Roads and bridges: 54 / 28 / 8 / 11 Solar farms: 42 / 28 / 18 / 12 Wind farms: 41 / 27 / 19 / 13 Electric transmission lines: 28 / 41 / 16 / 16 Oil pipelines: 26 / 36 / 24 / 14 Natural gas plants: 26 / 42 / 16 / 17 Geothermal plants: 25 / 37 / 16 / 23 Nuclear plants: 22 / 35 / 28 / 15 Data centers: 18 / 27 / 44 / 11 Coal plants: 16 / 33 / 34 / 16 Survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters, Oct. 9–13, 2026.

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Voters are most confident that building new clean energy projects will lower costs, while 57% of voters say that building new data centers will not help lower costs.
Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Are Split on What Types of New Energy and Infrastructure Projects Will Lower Costs. Description: For each of the following types of energy and infrastructure projects, please say if you think building these will help lower costs. New clean energy projects — Building these will help lower costs: 51%, Don't know: 21%, Building these will not help lower costs: 28% New infrastructure like roads and bridges — Building these will help lower costs: 42%, Don't know: 22%, Building these will not help lower costs: 35% New large fossil fuel energy projects — Building these will help lower costs: 40%, Don't know: 24%, Building these will not help lower costs: 36% New electric transmission projects — Building these will help lower costs: 40%, Don't know: 27%, Building these will not help lower costs: 33% New data centers — Building these will help lower costs: 23%, Don't know: 20%, Building these will not help lower costs: 57%

ALT Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Are Split on What Types of New Energy and Infrastructure Projects Will Lower Costs. Description: For each of the following types of energy and infrastructure projects, please say if you think building these will help lower costs. New clean energy projects — Building these will help lower costs: 51%, Don't know: 21%, Building these will not help lower costs: 28% New infrastructure like roads and bridges — Building these will help lower costs: 42%, Don't know: 22%, Building these will not help lower costs: 35% New large fossil fuel energy projects — Building these will help lower costs: 40%, Don't know: 24%, Building these will not help lower costs: 36% New electric transmission projects — Building these will help lower costs: 40%, Don't know: 27%, Building these will not help lower costs: 33% New data centers — Building these will help lower costs: 23%, Don't know: 20%, Building these will not help lower costs: 57%

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NEW POLL: More than 3 in 4 voters (76%) would support a new transmission line in their community to connect more clean energy to the grid. In contrast, voters are 40 points less supportive of building transmission lines to connect more AI data centers.
Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Support Transmission Lines for Clean Energy, but Oppose Them for AI Data Centers. Description: Transmission lines carry energy from one point of the electric power system to another. These lines are typically overhead, and they transport large quantities of high-voltage electricity over long distances. Suppose a new transmission line is proposed for your community. If you knew the transmission line was being built to connect [SPLIT A/SPLIT B] to the power grid, would you support or oppose this transmission project being built in your community? <strong>Split A:</strong> More clean energy — Support: 76%, Oppose: 15% <strong>Split B:</strong> More AI data centers — Support: 36%, Oppose: 56% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

ALT Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Support Transmission Lines for Clean Energy, but Oppose Them for AI Data Centers. Description: Transmission lines carry energy from one point of the electric power system to another. These lines are typically overhead, and they transport large quantities of high-voltage electricity over long distances. Suppose a new transmission line is proposed for your community. If you knew the transmission line was being built to connect [SPLIT A/SPLIT B] to the power grid, would you support or oppose this transmission project being built in your community? <strong>Split A:</strong> More clean energy — Support: 76%, Oppose: 15% <strong>Split B:</strong> More AI data centers — Support: 36%, Oppose: 56% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

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NEW POLL: Our polling has found a strong decline in Americans' participation in social activities since the 1990s. One reason this social decline could be problematic: Americans with less exposure to different groups of people are less trusting of them.
Dumbbell chart titled “Americans Trust Groups of People More if They Know Someone From That Group.” It compares the share of U.S. adults who trust each group among those who don’t personally know someone in it versus those who do. Trust is higher among people who know someone in every group, with gaps of 19 to 40 points: Disabled people: 73% (don’t know) vs. 92% (know), +19 Jewish people: 57% vs. 89%, +32 Your neighbors next door: 52% vs. 87%, +35 People who immigrated to the U.S. in the last 10 years: 56% vs. 87%, +31 People who have had an abortion: 58% vs. 86%, +28 Transgender people: 45% vs. 85%, +40 Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people: 44% vs. 84%, +40 Police officers: 62% vs. 82%, +20 Muslim people: 47% vs. 81%, +34 Evangelical Christians: 46% vs. 78%, +32 People who have been incarcerated in jail or prison: 34% vs. 66%, +32 Source: Data for Progress survey of 1,098 U.S. adults, September 4–9, 2026.

ALT Dumbbell chart titled “Americans Trust Groups of People More if They Know Someone From That Group.” It compares the share of U.S. adults who trust each group among those who don’t personally know someone in it versus those who do. Trust is higher among people who know someone in every group, with gaps of 19 to 40 points: Disabled people: 73% (don’t know) vs. 92% (know), +19 Jewish people: 57% vs. 89%, +32 Your neighbors next door: 52% vs. 87%, +35 People who immigrated to the U.S. in the last 10 years: 56% vs. 87%, +31 People who have had an abortion: 58% vs. 86%, +28 Transgender people: 45% vs. 85%, +40 Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people: 44% vs. 84%, +40 Police officers: 62% vs. 82%, +20 Muslim people: 47% vs. 81%, +34 Evangelical Christians: 46% vs. 78%, +32 People who have been incarcerated in jail or prison: 34% vs. 66%, +32 Source: Data for Progress survey of 1,098 U.S. adults, September 4–9, 2026.

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Overall, a majority of voters say that college sororities and fraternities have a negative impact on campus culture, including a higher percentage of women (60%) than men (47%).
Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: A Majority of Voters Think College Sororities and Fraternities Have a Negative Impact on Campus Culture. Description: Do you think college sororities and fraternities, also known as Greek Life, have a positive or negative impact on campus culture? All likely voters — Positive: 33%, Negative: 54% Democrat — Positive: 34%, Negative: 55% Independent / Third party — Positive: 28%, Negative: 58% Republican — Positive: 35%, Negative: 51% Female — Positive: 28%, Negative: 60% Male — Positive: 40%, Negative: 47% Under 45 — Positive: 47%, Negative: 42% 45+ — Positive: 26%, Negative: 60% Black or African American — Positive: 51%, Negative: 33% White — Positive: 29%, Negative: 59% Latino — Positive: 49%, Negative: 41% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

ALT Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: A Majority of Voters Think College Sororities and Fraternities Have a Negative Impact on Campus Culture. Description: Do you think college sororities and fraternities, also known as Greek Life, have a positive or negative impact on campus culture? All likely voters — Positive: 33%, Negative: 54% Democrat — Positive: 34%, Negative: 55% Independent / Third party — Positive: 28%, Negative: 58% Republican — Positive: 35%, Negative: 51% Female — Positive: 28%, Negative: 60% Male — Positive: 40%, Negative: 47% Under 45 — Positive: 47%, Negative: 42% 45+ — Positive: 26%, Negative: 60% Black or African American — Positive: 51%, Negative: 33% White — Positive: 29%, Negative: 59% Latino — Positive: 49%, Negative: 41% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

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Voters don’t trust college administrations, elected officials, or fraternities and sororities to respond appropriately to sexual assault claims.
Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Do Not Trust College Administrations, Elected Officials, or Fraternities and Sororities to Appropriately Respond to Sexual Assault Claims. Description: How much do you trust each of the following, if at all, to respond appropriately to claims of sexual assault? Hospitals — Trust: 86%, Don't trust: 12% Police departments — Trust: 70%, Don't trust: 27% College administrations — Trust: 42%, Don't trust: 52% Elected officials — Trust: 39%, Don't trust: 58% College sororities and fraternities — Trust: 26%, Don't trust: 67% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

ALT Bar chart of polling data from Data For Progress. Title: Voters Do Not Trust College Administrations, Elected Officials, or Fraternities and Sororities to Appropriately Respond to Sexual Assault Claims. Description: How much do you trust each of the following, if at all, to respond appropriately to claims of sexual assault? Hospitals — Trust: 86%, Don't trust: 12% Police departments — Trust: 70%, Don't trust: 27% College administrations — Trust: 42%, Don't trust: 52% Elected officials — Trust: 39%, Don't trust: 58% College sororities and fraternities — Trust: 26%, Don't trust: 67% October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

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NEW POLL: A strong majority of voters think elected officials have done too little to prevent sexual assault. Women are especially likely to say so: 77% say officials have done too little, compared to 63% of men.
Bar chart of polling data from Data for Progress. Title: A Strong Majority of Voters Across Party Lines Think Elected Officials Have Done Too Little to Prevent Sexual Assault. Question: In your opinion, do you think elected officials have done too much, too little, or the right amount to prevent sexual assault? Percentages listed as: too little, the right amount, too much, don't know. All likely voters: 71, 20, 3, 6 Democrat: 78, 16, 2, 4 Independent / Third party: 76, 12, 1, 10 Republican: 60, 29, 5, 6 Female: 77, 15, 2, 5 Male: 63, 26, 5, 6 Under 45: 59, 30, 8, 3 45+: 77, 15, 1, 7 Black or African American: 72, 17, 3, 8 White: 72, 19, 3, 6 Latino: 59, 33, 8, 0 October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

ALT Bar chart of polling data from Data for Progress. Title: A Strong Majority of Voters Across Party Lines Think Elected Officials Have Done Too Little to Prevent Sexual Assault. Question: In your opinion, do you think elected officials have done too much, too little, or the right amount to prevent sexual assault? Percentages listed as: too little, the right amount, too much, don't know. All likely voters: 71, 20, 3, 6 Democrat: 78, 16, 2, 4 Independent / Third party: 76, 12, 1, 10 Republican: 60, 29, 5, 6 Female: 77, 15, 2, 5 Male: 63, 26, 5, 6 Under 45: 59, 30, 8, 3 45+: 77, 15, 1, 7 Black or African American: 72, 17, 3, 8 White: 72, 19, 3, 6 Latino: 59, 33, 8, 0 October 9–13, 2026 survey of 1,155 U.S. likely voters.

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Alaska voters are split, 48%-48%, on a measure to repeal the state’s open primaries, ranked-choice voting system, & campaign finance disclosure rules. The cost of living ranks as the top issue for Alaskans — and voters want to hear more about affordability and less about transgender athletes.
Chart titled “Every Party Wants to Hear More About the Cost of Living and Less About Transgender Athletes.” Thinking about this year’s campaigns in Alaska, do you want to hear more or less from political candidates about each of the following topics? Net share who want to hear more minus share who want to hear less, among Democratic, Independent / Third party, and Republican voters (D/I/R): Health care costs +79/+39/+8; Grocery and food prices +70/+42/+14; Political corruption, like insider stock trading +65/+38/0; Public school funding +65/+36/−16; Gas and fuel prices +62/+41/+20; AI and data centers +38/+18/+9; Fisheries and bycatch +30/+23/−12; Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) +11/+18/+40; Immigration and border security −45/−21/+37; Transgender athletes in girls’ sports −81/−60/−34. October 8–16, 2026 survey of 694 Alaska likely voters. Data for Progress.

ALT Chart titled “Every Party Wants to Hear More About the Cost of Living and Less About Transgender Athletes.” Thinking about this year’s campaigns in Alaska, do you want to hear more or less from political candidates about each of the following topics? Net share who want to hear more minus share who want to hear less, among Democratic, Independent / Third party, and Republican voters (D/I/R): Health care costs +79/+39/+8; Grocery and food prices +70/+42/+14; Political corruption, like insider stock trading +65/+38/0; Public school funding +65/+36/−16; Gas and fuel prices +62/+41/+20; AI and data centers +38/+18/+9; Fisheries and bycatch +30/+23/−12; Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) +11/+18/+40; Immigration and border security −45/−21/+37; Transgender athletes in girls’ sports −81/−60/−34. October 8–16, 2026 survey of 694 Alaska likely voters. Data for Progress.

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In the governor’s race, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leads against three Republican candidates, with 46% of first-choice votes. In the final round of ranked-choice voting, Bronson and Taylor are eliminated, and Kreiss-Tomkins leads Bernadette Wilson, 53%-47%.
Bar chart titled “Kreiss-Tomkins Leads Wilson in Race for Governor of Alaska.” The November 2026 general election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska will be conducted using ranked choice voting. Voters were asked to rank up to four candidates, with 1 being their first choice and 4 being their last choice. If you are not sure, please rank that as your first option. First round ranked choice voting simulation for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska: Kreiss-Tomkins, Jonathan S. “JKT” / Johnson, Zac (Registered Democrat/Nonpartisan), 46%; Wilson, Bernadette M. / Shower, Michael K. (Registered Republican), 28%; Bronson, Dave / Church, Josh (Registered Republican), 12%; Taylor, Treg / English, Candi (Registered Republican), 9%; Not sure, 5%. Final round, after eliminating Taylor/English and Bronson/Church: Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson, 53%; Wilson/Shower, 47%. October 8–16, 2026 survey of 694 Alaska likely voters. Data for Progress.

ALT Bar chart titled “Kreiss-Tomkins Leads Wilson in Race for Governor of Alaska.” The November 2026 general election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska will be conducted using ranked choice voting. Voters were asked to rank up to four candidates, with 1 being their first choice and 4 being their last choice. If you are not sure, please rank that as your first option. First round ranked choice voting simulation for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Alaska: Kreiss-Tomkins, Jonathan S. “JKT” / Johnson, Zac (Registered Democrat/Nonpartisan), 46%; Wilson, Bernadette M. / Shower, Michael K. (Registered Republican), 28%; Bronson, Dave / Church, Josh (Registered Republican), 12%; Taylor, Treg / English, Candi (Registered Republican), 9%; Not sure, 5%. Final round, after eliminating Taylor/English and Bronson/Church: Kreiss-Tomkins/Johnson, 53%; Wilson/Shower, 47%. October 8–16, 2026 survey of 694 Alaska likely voters. Data for Progress.

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