Affordability remains the top concern for independent voters.
For all of the talk going on in the news right now, our research is clear: Independent Americans consistently rank affordability as their top issue. Yes, Americans are concerned about our democratic institutions, border security, and free speech, but everyday issues like the cost of groceries reign supreme.
The Big Picture
With this in mind, it’s puzzling to see neither of the two candidates adopt a coherent and cohesive economic policy stance. Instead, we’re hearing proposals being floated around seemingly arbitrarily, from removing the tax on tips to a Harris-proposed $50,000 tax break for small businesses.
Zooming In
Candidates are prioritizing short-term political gains over economic solutions.
This random assortment of economic proposals is squarely aimed at winning over independent or undecided voters. But rather than presenting bipartisan platforms that would solve the issues at hand and are attractive to independents, they’re instead attempting to one-up their political opponent for short-term gain.
Economists are warning about the lack of economic foresight.
In August, Greg Ip of the Wall Street Journal wrote, "It’s too soon to predict the winner of November’s presidential election, but not too soon to predict the loser: economics."
Now that we’re less than a month away from the election, this statement still holds true.
The race for tax breaks is unsustainable.
We’re also witnessing an arms race of sorts, where both candidates appear to be eager to see who can give away more tax breaks. Drawing from the same article by Greg Ip:
Harris has proposed $6,000 tax credit for the parents of a newborn child. Not to be outbid, Trump’s running mate JD Vance has pitched a $5,000 credit for every child, no matter how rich the parents. The fiscal arms race doesn’t stop there; Harris is promising a $25,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Trump would end income taxes on Social Security benefits.
Data Snapshot
- Kamala Harris’s economic promises will cost about $1 trillion over a decade.
- Trump’s Social Security tax repeal would likely cost $1.6 trillion or more.
- Recent stimulus checks contributed to inflation reaching its highest levels since the 1970s.
Independent Lens
Independent voters tend to be younger, and they overwhelmingly skew towards the Millennial generation. These voters are thinking about long-term economic stability, homeownership, and retirement planning. Reactionary economic policies that prioritize short-term electoral wins over comprehensive, sustainable solutions are a growing concern.
We need leaders who think beyond the next election cycle and instead focus on building an economy that fosters affordability and stability for future generations.
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