Voters Put Affordability at Top of Midterm Concerns

Surging inflation, mortgage rates and gas prices in 2026 drove voter anxiety as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Residential

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single house silhouette beneath a heavy horizontal slab, set in a bare navy and cream field with one red accent. — Voters ranked affordability as their top concern in the 2026 midterms, as inflation, mortgage rates and gas prices pushed Democrats to win control of both chambers of Congress. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you expect your household's cost of living to improve over the next year?

Voters identified affordability as their major concern in the 2026 midterm election, which ended with Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Approximately three-quarters of House voters nationally rated affordability as not good or poor.

Why it matters

Inflation surged for several months before the election, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbed, and gas prices have risen since early 2026. These pressures directly shape household budgets and the policy agenda of the incoming Congress.

Approximately three-quarters of U.S. House voters nationally rated affordability as not good or poor in polling tied to the 2026 midterm. Whether lawmakers will reduce housing costs or energy prices in the coming session has not been determined.

The players

Democratic Party

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and now holds control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The details

Lawmakers could reduce property taxes at the local level and ease housing market regulations to allow more homes to be built. Analysts cited in the reporting say ending the war in Iran could bring gas prices down and ease diesel costs.

Early 2026: Gas prices began rising.
2026 midterm election (November 3, 2026): Voters expressed affordability as their major concern.

Market Landscape

The rise in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate in 2026 added to housing affordability pressure that had already been building through months of elevated inflation. The Federal Reserve may bring inflation down and enter a rate-cutting cycle, which would help lower housing and financing costs.

Rising mortgage rates and gas prices are raising the cost of buying a home and getting around for many households. Affordability is expected to take six months to one year to improve if policymakers tackle it immediately.

The takeaway

Households facing higher mortgage and fuel costs can review fixed-rate options and budget for gas price swings while policy responses take time to take effect. Voter priorities this cycle show that housing and energy costs are shaping political outcomes as much as they shape household finances.