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Voters who backed Donald Trump in 2024 and swung to Democrats in this year's Virginia and New Jersey elections did so over economic concerns, according to focus groups conducted by a Democratic pollster and obtained by POLITICO.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger points at the crowd after she was declared the winner of the Virginia governor's race during an election night watch party this month in Richmond, Virginia. | Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
Donald Trump voters who backed Democrats in two key governor’s races last month did so because of their alarm over cost-of-living issues, according to the results from focus groups conducted for Democrats and obtained by POLITICO — the latest sign that a flagging economy will be a problem for the GOP heading into the midterms, if Democrats can keep their focus on it.
Post-election research of Trump or third-party 2024 voters who flipped to Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia last month found that economic concerns were top of mind for these voters. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) made cost-of-living the centerpiece of their campaign messaging, and it helped propel them to double-digit victories.
