Press Release

New Groundwork Action, Hart Research Poll: Voters Demand Economic Populism Agenda That Takes On Corporate Power and the Rigged Economy

August 10, 2026

For Immediate Release:
August 10, 2026

Press Contact:
press@groundworkaction.org

Affordability message not enough: the American people want a decent life with a little bit of breathing room, see corporate accountability and economic reform as the path there

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New polling from Groundwork Action and Hart Research provides a blueprint for Democrats to win back the voters they’ve lost: run against an economy rigged by corporate interests, not just high prices. The research, based on two national surveys conducted in May and June 2026, finds that affordability remains voters’ top concern heading into the midterms. However, 58% of Americans, including a majority (57%) of “Gettable Former Democrats” – those who used to vote for Democrats but recently left the party – say lowering prices is not enough: fixing the economy will require fundamental changes to a system rigged to favor large corporations and billionaires.

The new polling also reveals that a significant majority of voters (63%), including 71% of Gettable Former Democrats, say the bigger obstacle to economic progress today is that the government “prioritizes the interests of billionaires and big corporations,” rather than it “taxes too much and over-regulates businesses.” Two-thirds of voters agree the economy is “unfairly rigged to benefit the wealthy and major corporations at the expense of everyone else.” Voters also overwhelmingly want the government to take an active role in the economy (81%), with 59% preferring an approach where leaders actively intervene on the front-end, setting fair standards for markets and directly capping prices.

As Beltway insiders debate whether Democrats should embrace democratic socialism or moderation, our polling suggests the gravest political risk is continuing to defend market fundamentalism – particularly when it comes to winning back the voters who have left the party.

The findings come as polls show that Republicans are losing ground on economic issues. Fox News polling shows that, for the first time since the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, Americans trust Democrats over Republicans to handle the economy – 52% to 48%. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll finds the same: after nearly a decade of siding with Republicans, 37% of registered voters said that Democrats had a better approach to the U.S. economy, compared to 36% who picked the GOP.

Groundwork Action’s President and CEO Lindsay Owens shared the following reaction:

“For the first time in a generation, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy. Trump’s mismanagement has created a real opening — but Democrats shouldn’t mistake Republicans’ failures for durable support.

“Voters have a coherent understanding of why life has become so unaffordable, and they’re ready for a populist economic message that cuts through the political noise, including to voters Democrats have lost. That message must name the villains — corporations and billionaires that have a stranglehold over our economy and democracy — and back it up with real action. Voters aren’t looking for another small tax credit or subsidy as a paltry fix for the affordability crisis. They want their leaders to step in and cap runaway prices on groceries, rent, and utilities, and go after the corporations that collude to fix prices instead of competing fairly.

“Above all, they want an economy where hard work earns them a decent life with a little breathing room. The question is: will Democrats meet this moment?”

BACKGROUND

Polling takeaways for a winning brand of economic populism:

“Gettable Former Democrats” don’t think it’s possible to address high prices in a real way without directly confronting the power held by billionaires and big Corporations.

Voters are looking for major changes to our economic system, not simply tinkering around the margins. Two-thirds of both “gettable former Democrats” (voters who supported Democrats in the past, left the party recently, but do not identify as strong Republicans or very conservative) as well as two-thirds of voters overall think major changes or a complete overhaul of our current economic system are necessary.
58% of voters say “the economy has deeper problems than just high prices… what we really need are fundamental changes so the economy works for everyone,” including majorities of independents (56%) and “Gettable Former Democrats” (57%).
Moreover, more than two in three voters (67%) think the economy is “unfairly rigged” to benefit the wealthy and major corporations at the expense of everyone else, as opposed to believing it gives everyone a fair chance to succeed through hard work and determination (31%). Significant majorities of voters say billionaires (72%) and big corporations and CEOs (70%) have more of a negative than positive impact on the middle class, higher than both President Trump (59%) and Republicans in Congress (57%).
The most popular policy tested among voters is “[prosecuting] corporate fraud, wage theft, and other crimes that companies and their executives commit” at 94% favorability.

Overwhelming majorities prioritize an economy that provides people with breathing room over the chance to make it rich.

81% of voters agree the economy should primarily ensure “everyone who works hard can have a decent life with a little breathing room to pay bills and save,” with 17% preferring that “anyone with a good idea and the initiative to pursue it has the chance to become wealthy.”
This consensus holds across party lines, with 86% of Democrats, 70% of independents, and 77% of Republicans prioritizing an economy that provides breathing room over an economy that prioritizes the opportunity to get rich.
When asked what defines a decent life, voters emphasize considerations from the practical –not having to stress about paying monthly bills (71% calling it essential to a decent life) and saving enough money for a comfortable retirement (65%) – to the more abstract, such as having the freedom to make their own decisions and live how they choose (69%) and to spend quality time with family and friends (67%).
Few prioritize the goals of becoming a millionaire (5% calling it essential) or starting their own business (9%).

Voters want direct interventions in the economy, not just subsidies after the fact.

Old debates about the role of government are now largely settled questions: 81% of voters believe the government should play an active role in the economy.
Voters have a clear view of what that approach should look like: When choosing between two approaches government might take to help with affordability, voters prefer by 59% to 32% that “government sets a higher minimum wage, provides healthcare to all Americans, and regulates prices on essential goods so people can afford more” over the government providing subsidies and tax credits to help people on the back end.
77% of Democrats and 53% of Independents prefer the government setting rules on the front end, and even 41% of Republicans agree. Gettable former Democrats prefer this approach 58% to 34%.

Government should directly intervene to fix a rigged system, including price caps and freezes.

Sixty-three percent of voters, including 71% of Gettable Former Democrats, say the bigger obstacle to economic progress today is that government “prioritizes the interests of billionaires and big corporations,” rather than it “taxes too much and over-regulates businesses.”
Policy proposals to take on those entrenched interests are popular across the board.
On AI specifically, 59% say big tech and AI companies have more of a negative than positive impact on the middle class. Additionally, a majority (55%) of voters say “government should require companies to give working people a say in how AI is adopted and to share with workers a portion of the profits that AI generates,” while 31% say “government should not interfere with companies and provide financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs to AI so that Americans get help without slowing innovation.”
All AI policy proposals tested enjoyed majority support, with particularly high levels for banning surveillance pricing (90% favor, 73% strongly favor).
Policy prescriptions favored by an overwhelming majority of voters include significant and direct government interventions in pricing for essential items, from utility rates (81% favor) to groceries (80%) to rent (85%). This includes fundamental checks on the power companies have to set prices, whether they be circumstantial (during an emergency) or operational (through new technologies and data collection).

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