Democrats favored over Republicans on health care, immigration, economy: Survey

September 15, 2026 - 20:12

A recent survey shows Democrats leading Republicans on several of the issues voters say matter most to them, including immigration, health care and the economy. The New York Times/Siena University poll found that 51 percent of respondents trust Democrats more on health care, while Republicans trail on that topic. On immigration, Democrats also hold an advantage, though the margin is narrower. The economy, often a deciding factor in national elections, shows Democrats ahead as well, despite continued voter concern about inflation and the cost of living.

The findings suggest that while Republicans have tried to focus their messaging on border security and economic discontent, those arguments are not yet translating into a clear lead. Democrats appear to benefit from public support for protecting access to health care and from a perception that they are more willing to address rising prices with direct government action.

The poll also indicates that many voters remain undecided or dissatisfied with both parties. That leaves room for either side to shift the numbers before election day. For now, Democrats hold a modest but measurable advantage on the three issues that respondents ranked as their top priorities.