From the 2026 National Study
What Changed Since 2024
Image, Ballot, and Message Testing
September 28th, 2026
September 28th, 2026
2024 vs. 2026: Ballot & Party Image
Questions asked in both the May 2024 National Issue Study and the September 2026 National Poll, compared at the topline.
Generic Ballot, U.S. HouseMinor wording update
| Response | May 2024 | Sept 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 42% | 48% | +6 |
| Republican | 40% | 43% | +3 |
| Undecided | 12% | 6% | -6 |
| Other | 6% | 3% | -3 |
| Margin (D minus R) | D+2 | D+5 | +3 |
2024 wordingIf the 2024 General Election were held today, which Party's candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives would you vote for?
2026 wordingIf the November 3rd general election for the U.S. House of Representatives were held today, which Party's candidate would you vote for?
Republican PoliciesSame question
| Response | May 2024 | Sept 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too extreme | 53% | 50% | -3 |
| Just about right | 26% | 33% | +7 |
| Not conservative enough | 22% | 17% | -5 |
Wording, both yearsWhat is your opinion of the policies being supported by Republicans?
Democrat PoliciesSame question
| Response | May 2024 | Sept 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too extreme | 50% | 46% | -4 |
| Just about right | 27% | 28% | +1 |
| Not progressive enough | 22% | 26% | +4 |
Wording, both yearsWhat is your opinion of the policies being supported by Democrats?
Reading this page. All three questions use the same response options in both years. The generic ballot wording changed only in the election reference (2024 general vs. November 3rd general). Topline percentages are shown as reported in each deck, so the 2024 policy columns sum to 101% and 99% due to rounding.
Sources: co/efficient National Issue Study, fielded April 29 to May 1, 2024, 1,755 likely general election voters, MoE ±3.23%. co/efficient National Poll, fielded September 27 to 28, 2026, 2,248 likely general election voters, MoE ±2.04%. Both mobile text response. Change is shown in percentage points (2026 minus 2024).
Top Issues: Head-to-Head, Part 1
Economy, immigration, and public safety issues asked in both studies, 2024 option directly above 2026.
How to read. Each issue shows the 2024 result directly above its 2026 counterpart; wording appears once when it is identical. 2024 asked voters for their top 3 of 30 issues; 2026 allowed up to 5 of 34, so 2026 percentages run higher across the board and rank is the more comparable measure. Rank change is positive when an issue moved up the list. "T" marks a tied rank, so T6 means tied for sixth.
| Year | Answer wording | Share selecting | % | Rank | Pt. chg. | Rank chg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy & Taxes | ||||||
| 2024 | Reducing Inflation to Lower Food and Energy Costs | 26% | 3 | -3 | -1Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 23% | T4 | ||||
| 2024 | Ensuring the Rich Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes | 15% | T6 | +9 | +3Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 24% | 3 | ||||
| 2024 | Cutting Taxes and Wasteful Spending | 18% | 5 | +1 | -3Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 19% | T8 | ||||
| 2024 | Regulating Large Companies to Prevent Price Gouging and Massive Profits | 10% | 10 | +3 | -8Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 13% | T18 | ||||
| 2024 | Reducing Regulation on Businesses | 1% | 30 | +3 | -4Loose match | |
| 2026 | Cutting Red Tape and Regulations to Build More Homes | 4% | 34 | |||
| Immigration & Border | ||||||
| 2024 | Securing the Border and Stopping the Flow of Illegal Immigration | 37% | 1 | -12 | -1Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Securing the Border and Deporting Illegal Immigrants | 25% | 2 | |||
| 2024 | Immigration/Asylum Reform | 8% | T13 | +5 | -5Loose match | |
| 2026 | Stopping Mass Deportations and Protecting Due Process | 13% | T18 | |||
| Public Safety & Guns | ||||||
| 2024 | Supporting Law Enforcement and Increasing Penalties for Violent Criminals | 12% | 9 | +7 | +1Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Supporting Law Enforcement and Restoring Law and Order in Our Cities | 19% | T8 | |||
| 2024 | Protecting Second Amendment Rights | 8% | T13 | +6 | -2Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 14% | T15 | ||||
| 2024 | Reducing Gun Violence and Getting Weapons Off Our Streets | 15% | T6 | -5 | -19Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 10% | T25 | ||||
Sources: co/efficient National Issue Study, fielded April 29 to May 1, 2024, 1,755 likely general election voters, MoE ±3.23%. co/efficient National Poll, fielded September 27 to 28, 2026, 2,248 likely general election voters, MoE ±2.04%. Both mobile text response. Change is shown in percentage points (2026 minus 2024). 2024 rank is out of 30 options; 2026 rank is out of 34. Loose matches are judgment calls about related topics, not equivalent questions.
Top Issues: Head-to-Head, Part 2
Energy, elections, government, and social issues asked in both studies, 2024 option directly above 2026.
How to read. Each issue shows the 2024 result directly above its 2026 counterpart; wording appears once when it is identical. 2024 asked voters for their top 3 of 30 issues; 2026 allowed up to 5 of 34, so 2026 percentages run higher across the board and rank is the more comparable measure. Rank change is positive when an issue moved up the list. "T" marks a tied rank, so T6 means tied for sixth.
| Year | Answer wording | Share selecting | % | Rank | Pt. chg. | Rank chg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Climate | ||||||
| 2024 | Increasing Energy Independence through Domestic Oil/Gas Production | 8% | T13 | +2 | -12Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Unleashing American Energy Production to Lower Electric Bills | 10% | T25 | |||
| 2024 | Battling Climate Change by Restricting Greenhouse Gas Emissions | 9% | T11 | +4 | -7Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Fighting Climate Change and Expanding Clean, Affordable Energy | 13% | T18 | |||
| Elections & Government | ||||||
| 2024 | Reducing Fraud and Uncertainty in our Elections | 4% | T22 | +24 | +21Loose match | |
| 2026 | Requiring Voter ID, Proof of Citizenship, and Cleaning Up Voter Rolls | 28% | 1 | |||
| 2024 | Protecting Voting Rights of Underserved Communities | 4% | T22 | +11 | +10Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Stopping Voter Suppression and Protecting Voting Rights of Underserved Communities | 15% | T12 | |||
| 2024 | Stamping out Government Corruption | 13% | 8 | +9 | +2Loose match | |
| 2026 | Stopping Self-Dealing and Corruption in the White House | 22% | 6 | |||
| 2024 | Protecting Free Speech from Government & Big Tech Censorship | 7% | 16 | +8 | +4Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 15% | T12 | ||||
| 2024 | Limiting Misinformation and Disinformation | 4% | T22 | +5 | -6Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 9% | 28 | ||||
| Social Issues | ||||||
| 2024 | Guaranteeing Women's Reproductive Freedom | 30% | 2 | -16 | -13Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 14% | T15 | ||||
| 2024 | Protecting the Lives of Unborn Children | 5% | T19 | +6 | -4Identical wording | |
| 2026 | 11% | T23 | ||||
| 2024 | Eliminating Race-Based Programs like Affirmative Action and DEI | 4% | T22 | +6 | -3Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Eliminating DEI and Race-Based Programs in Government and Schools | 10% | T25 | |||
| 2024 | Combating White Supremacy and Racism in America | 6% | T17 | +2 | -12Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Combating Racism and Defending Diversity and Inclusion | 8% | 29 | |||
| 2024 | Fighting for LGBTQIA+ Rights | 5% | T19 | +2 | -11Revised wording | |
| 2026 | Protecting the Rights and Safety of LGBTQ Americans | 7% | T30 | |||
Sources: co/efficient National Issue Study, fielded April 29 to May 1, 2024, 1,755 likely general election voters, MoE ±3.23%. co/efficient National Poll, fielded September 27 to 28, 2026, 2,248 likely general election voters, MoE ±2.04%. Both mobile text response. Change is shown in percentage points (2026 minus 2024). 2024 rank is out of 30 options; 2026 rank is out of 34. Loose matches are judgment calls about related topics, not equivalent questions.
2024 vs. 2026: Issues Without a Match
Answer options that appear in only one of the two studies, for reference.
May 2024 Only8 options
| Wording | % | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Saving our Democracy | 19% | 4 |
| Reducing Income Inequality | 9% | T11 |
| Fully Funding Public Education | 6% | T17 |
| Rebuilding and Strengthening our Military | 5% | T19 |
| Criminal Justice Reform and Reducing Police Brutality | 4% | T22 |
| Maintaining Parental Rights and Transparency in Education | 4% | T22 |
| Prioritizing and Supporting the Traditional Family | 2% | T28 |
| Reducing Military Spending | 2% | T28 |
Sept 2026 Only12 options
| Wording | % | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Cracking Down on Fraud and Abuse of Government Benefit Programs | 23% | T4 |
| Making Healthcare a Right with Medicare for All | 21% | 7 |
| Ending the Iran War That Sent Gas Prices Skyrocketing | 18% | 10 |
| Ending Tariffs That Raise Prices on American Families | 17% | 11 |
| Stopping the Military Occupation and Masked Federal Agents in Our Cities | 15% | T12 |
| Making Housing Affordable and Taking On Corporate Landlords | 14% | T15 |
| Preventing Iran from getting Nuclear weapons and bringing peace to the Middle East | 13% | T18 |
| Draining the Swamp and Rooting Out the Deep State | 12% | 22 |
| Protecting Women's Sports and Stopping Gender Ideology in Schools | 11% | T23 |
| Lowering Healthcare Costs Through More Choice and Competition | 7% | T30 |
| Using Tariffs to Bring Manufacturing Jobs Back to America | 7% | T30 |
| Stopping Attacks on Benefits for Immigrant and Underserved Communities | 5% | 33 |
Sources: co/efficient National Issue Study, fielded April 29 to May 1, 2024, 1,755 likely general election voters, MoE ±3.23%. co/efficient National Poll, fielded September 27 to 28, 2026, 2,248 likely general election voters, MoE ±2.04%. Both mobile text response. Change is shown in percentage points (2026 minus 2024). 2024 rank is out of 30 options; 2026 rank is out of 34.
Methodology & Demographics
- Fielded On:
- September 27-28, 2026
- Method:
- Mobile Text Responses
- Population & Sample Description:
- 2248 Likely General Election Voters
- Weighting:
- Age, Gender, Race, and Education
- MoE:
- ±2.04%
Self-Reported Party
| Republican | 40% |
| Democrat | 39% |
| Ind/Other | 21% |
Gender
| Female | 53% |
| Male | 47% |
Age
| 18-34 | 11% |
| 35-44 | 13% |
| 45-54 | 15% |
| 55-64 | 20% |
| 65+ | 41% |
Ideology
| Conservative | 43% |
| Moderate | 31% |
| Liberal | 26% |
Race
| White | 76% |
| Hispanic | 10% |
| Black | 9% |
| Other Race | 5% |
Education
| HS | 36% |
| Some College | 27% |
| College | 22% |
| Grad+ | 15% |
Last 4 Generals
| 4 of 4 | 52% |
| 3 of 4 | 15% |
| 2 of 4 | 9% |
| 1 of 4 | 6% |
| 0 of 4 | 17% |
Region
| South | 39% |
| West | 23% |
| Midwest | 20% |
| Northeast | 17% |
Household Income
| <$50k | 16% |
| $50-75k | 17% |
| $75-100k | 18% |
| $100-150k | 34% |
| $150k+ | 14% |
Community Type
| Suburban | 41% |
| Urban | 30% |
| Rural | 29% |
For information, contact:
Ryan Munce
President
co/efficient
ryan@coefficient.org