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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 | SPECIAL REPORT & ANALYSIS
POLICY ANALYSIS | RURAL VOTERS & THE ECONOMY
Rural Economic Frustration Tests Trump’s Standing
AP-KFF poll shows a gap between pocketbook concerns and presidential approval
Analysis · September 23, 2026
Economic frustration is widespread among rural Americans even as President Donald Trump retains substantial support, according to a new Associated Press-KFF survey reported by Ali Swenson, Sarah Jane Tribble and Linley Sanders. About half of rural registered voters say the economy has deteriorated since Trump returned to office, while 48% approve of his job performance. The findings document dissatisfaction with economic conditions alongside continued support for the president.
Groceries, gasoline and healthcare are leading financial concerns. Rural voters are more likely than voters overall to worry about affording food or fuel, and negative assessments extend to both national and local economies. For households, these are recurring expenses that directly affect how much money remains after essential bills are paid.
A Partisan Split
Partisan differences remain pronounced. About six in 10 rural Republicans say Trump has improved the national economy, compared with roughly two in 10 independents and fewer than one in 10 Democrats. That distinction matters: a voter can consider current conditions poor while believing they have improved. Questions about the economy’s condition, its direction and a president’s performance measure different judgments.
The approximately equal shares expressing economic dissatisfaction and approving of Trump also should not be treated as the same respondents. Those headline results alone do not establish how many individual supporters hold both views. They show that economic assessments and overall presidential approval cannot be used interchangeably.
Prices vs. Inflation
Purchasing power helps explain the economic concern. A slower rate of inflation, whenever it occurs, does not undo earlier price increases. Prices can continue climbing more slowly while the household budget remains under pressure. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller explained that distinction in April: an increase in the price level can persist after its contribution to the inflation rate fades. The practical question for families is whether their income buys more after essential expenses.
Healthcare Costs and Access
Healthcare adds another dimension. Just 17% of surveyed rural voters said the administration’s healthcare policies had positively affected their healthcare costs; 41% reported no impact and 41% reported a negative impact. These responses measure perceived effects, rather than independently establishing what caused changes in medical bills.
For rural households, the cost of care can also include getting to it. The Rural Health Information Hub documents longer travel distances, limited transportation options and time away from work as barriers to healthcare access. That helps explain why fuel and medical expenses can reinforce one another: a medical appointment may also require a substantial transportation expense.
The Farm Household Connection
The agricultural connection extends beyond farm earnings. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that off-farm sources — including wages, nonfarm businesses and retirement income—provide most income for the majority of U.S. farm operator households. That makes employment and purchasing power outside agriculture relevant to farm families as well.
The implication is that commodity prices or aggregate farm income figures alone provide an incomplete picture of household finances. A farm family’s budget can reflect both the business’s earnings and a spouse’s paycheck, alongside food, fuel and medical costs. Conversely, this survey covers rural registered voters broadly; its findings should not be presented as a direct measure of farmers’ views on tariffs, agricultural assistance or export policy.
Reading the Poll
The timing and sample also set limits on interpretation. The survey interviewed 2,241 rural registered voters Aug. 12–24, with a sampling margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. Although released in September, it captures August opinions. Its rural registered-voter results are also not directly interchangeable with separate AP-NORC surveys of all U.S. adults. Neither the approval figure nor the economic findings establish how respondents will vote in November.
AG POLICY & MARKETS DAILY | POLICY ANALYSIS | RURAL VOTERS & THE ECONOMY — WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
