Poll: Economy, personal finances most important issues to Wisconsin voters

(The Center Square) – Nearly three-quarters of voters in Wisconsin say their incomes haven’t kept up over the past four years and more than half say that’s their top issue this fall.

The Institute for Reforming Government is out with a new poll that says “kitchen table issues” dominate the minds of voters heading into November.

“So, what keeps moms and dads up at night? It's personal finances, and it's the economy coming through loud and strong,” IRG Vice President Chris Reader said. “That's what they want to see solutions on. That's what they want to see candidates – whether we're talking about for president, or we're talking about for the U.S. Senate, or for the state legislative races – they want to see solutions to those issues that matter to them.”

IRG’s poll said 47% of voters said the economy is their top issue for the election. Another 8% said their personal finances. The poll shows that 17% of voters say the border is their top issue.

Overall, 71% of voters told pollsters their income has not kept pace with inflation.

Reader said 24% of voters overall said abortion is their top issue this fall. Also, less than 10% of independent voters rank abortion as the most important question to them.

“Looking at the cross tabs, 43% of Democrat voters still picked abortion, that’s 4% higher than the economy. But when you look at actual swing voters, 49% pick the economy and another 14% said personal finances -- which is really the same thing – so you got independent voters who will decide the election saying the economy and how that impacts your personal finances is the top issue. Only 9% of them say abortion is still at the top,” Reader explained.

IRG also asked, as Reader said, about solutions. And the poll shows that voters want more freedom and lower taxes.

Reader says 62% of respondents favor reducing government regulations if it meant more business could be created in Wisconsin. And nearly 60% of Republicans and Independents and almost half of Democrats support eliminating Wisconsin’s income tax.

“A flush 53% said ‘Yes, let's make us like the nine states that don't have an income tax.’ Like Florida, like Tennessee, like Texas, like the states where we know people are moving to from Wisconsin and taking billions of dollars in revenue with them,” Reader added. “It's, again, across party lines; 58% of Republicans, 53% of Democrats 58% of independents.”

IRG’s poll is based on polling of 800 registered Wisconsin voters. It was conducted by Scott Rasmussen National Survey June 20-26, 2024. The margin of error +/- 3.5%. You can read the full results here .