Democrats Pull Ahead of Republicans on Economy and Inflation

A new poll shows that more voters now trust Democrats than Republicans to handle the economy and inflation. The survey was done by Napolitan News Service and included 1,000 registered voters. It was conducted online on July 27–28, 2026. This is a big change, because Republicans had been ahead on these issues for a long time. The results could matter a great deal as the country heads toward the 2026 midterm elections.

The poll found that 41 percent of voters trust Democrats more on the economy, while only 34 percent trust Republicans. That is a seven-point gap. On inflation, Democrats also lead by seven points, with 40 percent trusting them compared to 33 percent for Republicans. These two issues — the economy and inflation — are considered the most important problems facing the country by 51 percent of voters. That makes this shift especially important for both political parties.

This was not always the case. Just a few months ago, in March 2026, Republicans were still ahead on both the economy and inflation. Their lead started to shrink during a conflict involving Iran, and by April, Democrats had taken the lead. In June, things seemed to be turning back toward Republicans when a ceasefire was discussed, and the gap shrank to just two points. But that recovery did not last, and by July, Democrats had pulled back ahead by seven points.

Experts say the change is striking because Republicans have long been seen as the party voters trust most on money and prices. Even when President Donald Trump's economic plans faced criticism after new tariff policies in April, Republicans still had the trust of 41 percent of voters on the economy. Now, that number has dropped to 34 percent — matching a low point last seen in May. Meanwhile, 41 percent of voters trust Democrats on the economy, the highest level for the party since October 2024.

Inflation has followed a very similar pattern. Since 2024, Democrats had only led Republicans on inflation twice, and one of those times the lead was just one point. Now, Democrats have been ahead on inflation for four months in a row. The seven-point lead on inflation matches their lead on the broader economy, showing that voters are shifting their trust on both issues at the same time.

When voters were asked which party they trust more on the issue that matters most to them personally, Democrats led by 10 points — 44 percent to 34 percent. Napolitan described that as one of the strongest results for Democrats on that question since President Trump returned to office. Healthcare came in as the third most important issue for voters, with 11 percent of people naming it their top concern. Democrats hold an 18-point advantage over Republicans on healthcare trust as well.

Looking at a longer timeline makes the change even clearer. On the economy, Republicans had an eight-point trust advantage back in May 2025. By March 2026, they still led by three points. But by July 2026, that had flipped to a seven-point lead for Democrats. Inflation followed almost the same path — Republicans led by six points in May 2025 and by two points in March 2026, before Democrats surged ahead by seven points in the latest poll.

As both parties prepare for the November midterm elections, these results raise important questions. Will the shift in voter trust last, or will it swing back toward Republicans before Election Day? The midterms are a type of election held in the middle of a president's term, and they often reflect how happy or unhappy voters are with the direction of the country. With economic issues on the minds of more than half of all voters, the battle over who voters trust on money and prices could play a big role in deciding which party wins control of Congress.