Adtaxi Survey Find Economic Concerns, Rising Costs and Digital Media Engagement Is Reshaping the 2026 Electorate

New research reveals pocketbook issues dominate voter priorities, as digital media proliferates as the leading source for political engagement and news

-PLUS: Consumers remain cautious about brands engaging in political or social debates-

DENVER, CO (June 16, 2026) — New findings from Adtaxi’s 2026 Economic & Political Survey & Study reveal that rising living costs, economic uncertainty, and digital-first media consumption are fundamentally reshaping voter priorities, political engagement, and consumer behavior ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

Drawing from a survey of more than 1,100 adults nationwide, Adtaxi’s latest report examines how Americans are navigating the intersection of politics, the economy, and media consumption during a period of continued financial strain and political polarization.

For more than 15 years, Adtaxi has tracked shifts in political affiliation, economic sentiment, media preferences, and message delivery across periods of major disruption, including the last recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s findings show financial concerns are now deeply influencing both consumer and voter decision-making across party lines.

“Economic anxiety is central to how Americans across party lines evaluate candidates, brands, and even their everyday purchasing decisions,” said Murry Woronoff, Director of Research at Adtaxi. “What stands out in this year’s data is that it reflects a more cautious consumer mindset influencing political attitudes.”

“Equally important, the media environment surrounding politics has fundamentally changed,” added Woronoff. “Search, streaming TV, social media, and mobile platforms now dominate political information discovery and advertising responsiveness across voter groups, which is a dramatic shift from the traditional television-centric model that defined campaigns just two decades ago.”

Key findings from the 2026 Economic & Political Study include:

Pocketbook issues dominate voter priorities: Nearly half of Americans (48.6%) say the economy and inflation are the issues that matter most to them, far outpacing healthcare (17.2%), immigration (6.4%), crime & public safety (5.3%), and social justice (3.2%), among other issues.

Economic confidence continues to weaken: Only 12.9% of Americans expect above-average economic growth over the next year, down nearly one-third from last year’s findings.

Rising everyday costs are reshaping behavior: Grocery prices are now the leading financial concern for consumers (23.6%), followed by gas and transportation costs (15%) and housing affordability (12%).

Finances are influencing political decisions: More than 66% of Americans say their personal financial situation will influence how they vote in upcoming elections, either “a great deal” or “a fair amount.”

Political engagement remains elevated: Approximately 63% of Americans say they are likely to vote in an election over the next 12 months. And with the midterm elections less than five months away, 28% of respondents already report actively following political or advocacy news, while another 28% regularly discuss political issues with others. 

Digital media now dominates political influence: Social media emerged as the leading source for political advocacy and news at 29%, followed by broadcast TV (17.4%) and connected TV/streaming (13.7%), which now significantly outpaces newspapers (6.7%).

Consumers favor brand neutrality: A plurality of respondents (42.4%) say brands should remain neutral and focus on products and services rather than political messaging. Democrats posted the highest level of support for brands openly sharing their political and social positions, with 33% in favor; in contrast, fewer than one-fifth of Republicans and Independents support brands taking public stances on political and social matters.

The report concludes that the traditional television-centric political media model has fractured into a fragmented, digital-first ecosystem driven by search, social, streaming and mobile consumption. As economic pressures intensify, voters are increasingly evaluating political messages and brand communications through a personal financial lens.

According to the study, organizations that emphasize authenticity, economic empathy, practical value and precision-targeted digital strategies will be best positioned to build trust and engagement in the evolving 2026 environment.

To access the full report, click HERE. Additional Adtaxi reports are available in the Resource Center section of their website HERE.

Methodology 

This study was conducted using SurveyMonkey, launching in May 2026 and surveying more than 1,100 U.S. adults nationwide. The survey examined attitudes and consumer behaviors tied to the economy and politics. Adtaxi ensured acceptable response rates across all nine (9) U.S. Census Divisions, as well as across key demographic ranges including gender, age, political party, and household income, to support a balanced national sample. All responses were collected anonymously and held in strict confidence, ensuring candid feedback and statistically reliable insights.

About Adtaxi
Founded in 2010, Adtaxi is a performance-driven media agency built to turn advertising investment into measurable business growth. The agency leads cross-channel strategy across CTV and streaming, programmatic, search, and social, aligning media execution to revenue impact.

Adtaxi helps brands eliminate waste, improve acquisition efficiency, and connect media exposure to real-world outcomes through advanced measurement and offline attribution. Its model combines strategic oversight with disciplined optimization, prioritizing business objectives over isolated platform metrics.

Working across leading platforms including Google, The Trade Desk, Meta, and TikTok, Adtaxi leverages proprietary market intelligence, category research, and first-party data to uncover high-value audiences and guide smarter investment decisions. By unifying media, measurement, and strategy, Adtaxi delivers accountable growth in an increasingly automated and fragmented landscape.