A new Franklin & Marshall College Poll has found Pennsylvania’s registered voters are deeply concerned about their personal finances, experiencing significant economic stress, and are increasingly dissatisfied with President Trump’s performance.
The survey findings are based on results of interviews conducted August 17 – 23, 2026. The interviews were conducted at the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. The data included in this release represent the responses of 501 registered Pennsylvania voters, including 213 Democrats, 208 Republicans, and 80 independents.
Voters say the economy (31%) is the most important problem facing the commonwealth. Among those who mention economic problems, Democrats lead Republicans as the party that can best handle the issue, 47% to 23%, which is a larger advantage for Democrats than in June when it was 42% to 24%.
The economy is the top concern of every partisan group. Nearly half (44%) of respondents say they are “worse off” financially than a year ago, the survey says.
Economic pessimism and concern about the economy is a direct result of the difficulties the state’s registered voters have paying for basic needs the poll says. Citing more than half of the state’s voters saying it is “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” to pay their utility bills (57%) or to pay for groceries (55%).
Nearly four in five voters had at least some difficulty paying for one or more of these expenses, with a significant numbers of voters in all political parties; Republican (74%) Democrat (79%), and independent (71%), saying they had some difficulty paying for at least one of the six listed expenses.
State Politics
As for state politics, Governor Josh Shapiro’s favorables are holding up well considering the negative feelings voters have expressed. About the same number of voters believe he is doing an “excellent” or “good” job (47%) as governor as believe he is doing a “fair” or “poor” job (47%).
The race for governor has changed little since June, with Governor Shapiro leading his Republican challenger, Stacy Garrity, 50% to 25%. The numbers have remained fairly stagnant.
Other questions voters were polled on that left noted impressions relate to artificial intelligence, data centers, and technology.
More than four in five (84%) voters believes artificial intelligence companies should be more closely regulated by the federal government. Four in five (79%) oppose having a data center built in their community.
Presidential Numbers
Fewer voters believe President Trump is doing an “excellent” or “good” job (27%) as president than believe he is doing a “fair” or “poor” job (73%), which is a sizable decline since a October poll when his positive approval rating was 41%.
President Trump’s positive approval rating among his base, white voters without a college degree (31%), has been declining and is now lower than Governor Shapiro’s rating (41%) among this group, the poll says.
On policy issues, Trump’s numbers have fallen across the board. Figures that stand out and align with voter economic concerns is the administration’s handling of inflation; falling from 31% positive in October to 15% today. Only one in three (33%) registered voters believes that the president’s policies have helped them personally.
Democrats currently lead Republicans by 12 points, 48% to 36%, in their preferences for the US House of Representatives, the poll says.
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