Key Findings
Trump Job Approval
47%
Approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as President
Steady since Dec.
Credit Trump for Economic Improvement
46%
Believe Trump administration policies are most responsible for economic gains
Steady since Dec.
GOP Advantage: Border & Immigration
+21
Net advantage when asked which party is more trusted on border security
Top Concern: Health Insurance Affordability
90%
Very or somewhat concerned about the cost of health insurance
Key Findings
1
Trump approval is holding steady. At 47% approve vs. 51% disapprove, both approval and disapproval are virtually unchanged since December -- well within the margin of error.
2
Republican economic frames are winning. 42% blame government overspending for inflation; 47% prefer GOP economic policies over Biden-era alternatives; 46% credit Trump for the current economic improvement.
3
GOP holds commanding leads on border and crime. 53% trust GOP on border (+21 net); 47% on crime (+10 net). These remain the party's strongest issues.
4
Cost of living is the central competitive battleground. Cost of living policy trust is a statistical tie (44% GOP vs. 44% Dem), and economic policy overall has collapsed to a virtual tie (47% vs. 46%). Only 29% say Trump is doing enough on cost of living -- essentially unchanged since December.
5
Affordability concerns are near-universal. Health insurance (90%), groceries (90%), energy (84%), and housing (87%) -- no meaningful ideological gap in concern levels.
6
Immigration ranks 7th in voter priorities. Despite its policy prominence, only 5% name it as their most important issue. Economic and governance concerns dominate voter priorities.
Most Important Issue Facing the Country
1
Saving Democracy
18%
2
Government Corruption
16%
3
Cost of Living / Affordability
15%
4
Taxes and Government Spending
15%
5
Jobs and Economy
12%
6
Healthcare Costs
7%
7
Immigration / Border
5%
8
Reproductive Rights
3%
9
Crime / Drugs
2%
Bottom Line
GOP enters 2026 with durable advantages on border and crime and strong economic narrative credibility. However, "Saving Democracy" has surged to the #1 voter concern, and the once-clear GOP edge on economic policy has narrowed to a virtual tie. Converting economic narrative wins into felt cost-of-living performance remains the defining challenge for competitive House districts.
Approval and Environment
Presidential approval and political environment, with trend comparisons to December 31, 2025
Trump Job Approval
U.S. House Approval
Approval Trend vs. December 31
Total Approve
+1
Total Disapprove
-1
Strong Approve
+1
Strong Disapprove
0
Key Takeaway
Trump's approval stands at 47%, essentially unchanged since December (within margin of error). Strong disapproval remains locked at 46% -- the floor of opposition is hardened and unmoved.
Moderates
28%
approve of Trump's job performance
Men vs Women
55% / 40%
approve -- a 15-point gender gap
House Approval
33%
approve of the U.S. House (net -27)
Top Concerns
Affordability concerns and healthcare policy preferences
90%
Very or Somewhat Concerned
about the cost of health insurance for themselves or their family
90%
Very or Somewhat Concerned
about grocery and food prices in their community
84%
Very or Somewhat Concerned
about gas and home energy costs
87%
Very or Somewhat Concerned
about housing and rent affordability in their area
How Concerned Are You About Affordability?
Affordability Concern by Ideology -- A Bipartisan Issue
Preferred Approach to Reducing Healthcare Costs
Strategic Insight
Health insurance affordability is the single highest concern in the electorate at 90% -- cutting across every ideology, income level, and region.
With no dominant public preference on how to address it, this represents a significant policy opportunity for 2026 messaging.
With no dominant public preference on how to address it, this represents a significant policy opportunity for 2026 messaging.
Conservative
87%
concerned about health insurance -- nearly matching liberals at 95%
Moderates
92%
concerned about groceries -- the highest of any ideology
No Consensus
28%
is the top policy pick (price transparency) -- a three-way split with no mandate
Economy and Cost of Living
Financial security, inflation attribution, economic credit, and affordability priorities
Feel Financially Secure vs. 4 Years Ago
48%
Say they feel very or somewhat financially secure compared to four years ago
Very secure +0 vs. Dec
Blame Gov't Overspending for Inflation
42%
Identify government overspending as the primary cause of 2021-2024 inflation
Credit Trump for Economic Improvement
46%
Say Trump administration policies are most responsible for economic gains
Steady since Dec.
Trump Doing Enough on Cost of Living
29%
Believe the administration is doing enough to address cost of living
Steady since Dec.
Perceived Cause of 2021-2024 Inflation
Who Deserves Credit for Economic Improvement?
How Financially Secure Do You Feel vs. Four Years Ago?
Preferred Government Approach to Affordability
Watchpoint
Economic credit to Trump holds steady at 46%, virtually unchanged from December (within margin of error). The persistent gap: only 29% say the administration is doing enough on cost of living, also essentially unchanged. Even among Trump approvers, 25% say not enough is being done.
Moderates
58%
trust Democrats more on cost of living policy
18-34
56%
trust Democrats on COL -- GOP's weakest age group
Trump Approvers
88%
trust GOP on COL -- but 25% still say not doing enough
Policy Preferences
Which party do Americans trust more on the defining issues of 2026?
| Issue Area | Trump / GOP | Biden / Democrats | Unsure | GOP Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Border Security and Immigration Which party do you trust more to handle border security? | 53% | 32% | 16% | +21 |
Crime and Public Safety Which party do you trust more to address crime and public safety? | 47% | 37% | 16% | +10 |
Economic Policy (Overall) Which party's economic policies do you trust more? | 47% | 46% | 7% | Virtual Tie |
Cost of Living / Affordability Which party do you trust more to address cost of living? | 44% | 44% | 12% | Virtual Tie |
Policy Trust -- Chart View
The 2026 Landscape
GOP holds commanding advantages on border (+21) and crime (+10), but the economic policy edge has collapsed to a virtual tie -- down from +5 in December. Cost of living also remains a statistical tie and a top voter priority. The erosion of the economic policy advantage is a significant shift to monitor heading into 2026.
Economic Policy Edge
Virtual Tie
GOP economic policy advantage collapsed from +5 in Dec to a statistical tie
Moderates
61%
trust Democrats on economic policy overall
Border
+21
remains the GOP's strongest issue by far
Most Important Issue: Trend vs. December 31
Biggest movers since December baseline, with real-world context
Saving Democracy
+6
Gov't Corruption
+1
Cost of Living
+0
Taxes / Spending
-2
Jobs / Economy
+1
Healthcare Costs
-7
Immigration / Border
+0
Reproductive Rights
-1
Crime / Drugs
+0
What's Driving the Shift
"Saving Democracy" surged +6 to #1 -- the largest single-issue movement in the dataset. This coincides with the government shutdown threat and growing anxieties about democratic norms and institutional stability.
"Government Corruption" holds at #2 (16%) -- the Epstein files release and ICE enforcement controversies are keeping institutional accountability in the spotlight, sustaining this as a top-tier concern.
"Healthcare Costs" fell sharply, -7 to 7% -- the largest decline in the dataset. The December spike was likely driven by ACA subsidy expiration fears; as that receded from headlines, so did urgency.
Most other issues -- including cost of living, taxes, jobs, immigration, and crime -- are holding steady within the margin of error.
"Government Corruption" holds at #2 (16%) -- the Epstein files release and ICE enforcement controversies are keeping institutional accountability in the spotlight, sustaining this as a top-tier concern.
"Healthcare Costs" fell sharply, -7 to 7% -- the largest decline in the dataset. The December spike was likely driven by ACA subsidy expiration fears; as that receded from headlines, so did urgency.
Most other issues -- including cost of living, taxes, jobs, immigration, and crime -- are holding steady within the margin of error.
Strategic Read
The electorate's issue priorities are shifting toward governance and democratic concerns and away from pocketbook issues. For House Republicans, this creates a tension: their strongest policy trust areas (border, crime) rank 7th and 9th in respondent priority, while the #1 concern ("Saving Democracy") is terrain where the opposition has historically set the narrative.
Immigration and Border
Deportation support, ICE image, enforcement approach, and policy credibility
Approve of Trump Deportation Policy
52%
Strongly or somewhat approve of the administration's approach to deportation
Local Law Enforcement Should Cooperate with ICE
52%
Believe local police should assist federal immigration enforcement
Support Allowing Recording of ICE Operations
72%
Say the public should be allowed to record ICE arrests and operations
Believe Deportation Policy Goes Too Far
55%
Feel the administration's deportation efforts are going too far
Preferred Approach to Undocumented Immigrants
Perception of Administration's Deportation Approach
Support for Deporting Violent Criminal Immigrants
Support for Deporting All Undocumented Immigrants
Favorability of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement)
ICE Operations: Enforcement and Public Transparency
Should members of the public be allowed to record ICE arrests?
Yes72%
No21%
Should ICE officers be allowed to conceal their identities during operations?
No -- Should Not Cover Faces53%
Yes -- Allow Face-Covering43%
Should local law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration enforcement (ICE)?
Yes52%
No35%
Public Perception: Who Is Being Targeted for Deportation?
The Mission vs. Methods Gap
A majority supports the stated mission -- 52% approve of the administration's deportation policy overall. But the contested terrain is execution: 55% feel enforcement is going too far, 72% want the public allowed to record ICE operations, and 69% believe most people being deported are nonviolent. Messaging focused on violent offenders and procedural transparency performs best with persuadable voters.
Moderates
70%
say the administration's deportation efforts are going too far
Adults 18-34
72%
say deportation policy goes too far -- the most critical age group
Public Perception of Deportees
69%
believe most people being deported are nonviolent (43% say they should not be deported)
Methodology and Demographics
Field Dates
February 23-24, 2026
Method
Mobile Text Responses, Mobile Interviews, and Landline Interviews
Sample Size
2,321 Registered Voters
Margin of Error
+/- 3%
Weighting
Age, Gender, Education, Race, Region
Age
| Age Group | % |
|---|---|
| 18-34 | 25% |
| 35-44 | 16% |
| 45-54 | 15% |
| 55-64 | 17% |
| 65+ | 28% |
Gender
| Gender | % |
|---|---|
| Female | 53% |
| Male | 47% |
Ideology
| Ideology | % |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 38% |
| Moderate | 28% |
| Liberal | 18% |
| Other | 16% |
Race / Ethnicity
| Race | % |
|---|---|
| White | 67% |
| Hispanic | 15% |
| Black | 11% |
| Other | 7% |
Region
| Region | % |
|---|---|
| South | 34% |
| West | 23% |
| Midwest | 22% |
| Northeast | 20% |
Household Income
| Income | % |
|---|---|
| Under $50k | 16% |
| $50k-$75k | 19% |
| $75k-$100k | 18% |
| $100k-$150k | 32% |
| $150k+ | 15% |
Contact
Ryan Munce, President, co/efficient -- ryan@coefficient.org | House Republican Conference National Constituent Poll, February 2026