Democrats have opened up a sizable advantage over Republicans on the economy and inflation, two issues that voters consistently rank among their top concerns, according to a new poll from Napolitan News Service.

Key Points

• Democrats lead Republicans by 7 points on voter trust to handle both the economy (41 percent to 34 percent) and inflation (40 percent to 33 percent).
• Republicans held leads on both issues as recently as March 2026 but lost that advantage following the Iran conflict.
• Democrats also lead by 10 points when voters are asked which party they trust more on the issue that matters most to them, 44 percent to 34 percent.
• The economy and inflation together are considered the most important issue by 51 percent of voters.
• Healthcare ranks a distant third among top voter concerns, with Democrats holding an 18-point advantage on that issue.

The Napolitan News Service poll found Democrats holding a seven-point lead over Republicans in voter trust in handling both the economy and inflation.

Economic issues have long been a Republican strength, making the shift notable, even though the GOP still held advantages on both measures less than four months ago.

The findings could present a warning sign for Republicans as voters continue to prioritize economic concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Why It Matters

Until April this year, in the Napolitan News Service series, Republicans had maintained an edge on issues such as the economy and inflation, which routinely rank among voters' top concerns.

The poll’s latest results suggest that advantage has not only disappeared but shifted decisively toward Democrats, potentially altering the political landscape as both parties look toward November.

What To Know

Napolitan's survey found Democrats holding their strongest position on economic issues in nearly two years, marking a sharp reversal from the advantages Republicans enjoyed earlier in 2026.

The poll found 41 percent of registered voters trust Democrats more on the economy, compared with 34 percent who trust Republicans. On inflation, Democrats hold an identical seven-point edge, leading 40 percent to 33 percent.

The survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted online July 27-28 by Scott Rasmussen, with fieldwork by RMG Research. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

A Dramatic Reversal on the Economy

The latest numbers mark a significant change from earlier this year.

According to Napolitan News Service, Republicans still enjoyed comfortable advantages on both the economy and inflation in February.

Those leads began to erode by late March amid the conflict involving Iran, before Democrats overtook Republicans in April.

By June, Republican fortunes appeared to be improving as ceasefire discussions emerged and the gap narrowed to just two points on each issue. That recovery, however, did not last.

This month, the 34 percent of voters who trust Republicans more on the economy matches a low previously recorded in May, while the 41 percent who trust Democrats represents the party's highest level of economic trust since October 2024.

The shift is particularly striking because even during periods when President Donald Trump's economic agenda faced criticism, Republicans generally retained an advantage on the issue.

Napolitan noted that after Trump's tariff policies were introduced in April, Republicans still held the trust of 41 percent of voters on the economy.

Inflation Follows the Same Pattern

Inflation, another issue that has been central to voter concerns, has tracked a similar trajectory.

Napolitan News Service said Democrats had only managed to lead Republicans on inflation twice since 2024, including one occasion when the margin was just a single point.

Now, Democrats have maintained an advantage on the issue for four consecutive months, having first moved ahead in April.

The latest poll shows Democrats trusted more on inflation by seven points, matching their lead on the broader economy.

The Issue Voters Care About Most

The findings become even more significant when viewed through the lens of voter priorities.

According to the poll, 51 percent of voters identify the economy or inflation as the most important issue facing the country. Healthcare ranked third at 11 percent, while Democrats hold an 18-point trust advantage on that issue.

When respondents were asked which party they trust more on the issue that is most important to them personally, Democrats led Republicans by 10 points, 44 percent to 34 percent.

Napolitan described that margin as one of the strongest Democratic performances on the measure since shortly after Trump's return to office.

Long-Term Trend Shows Major Swing

Historical figures included by Napolitan underscore the scale of the change.

On the economy, Republicans held an eight-point trust advantage in May 2025 and a three-point lead in March 2026. By July 2026, that had flipped to a seven-point Democratic advantage.

Inflation followed a similar path. Republicans led by six points in May 2025 and by two points in March 2026 before Democrats moved ahead by seven points in the latest survey.

Taken together, the numbers point to a substantial shift in voter attitudes on issues that have traditionally been among the Republican Party's greatest strengths, raising fresh questions about how durable the change may prove as the midterm campaign takes shape.