OLYMPIA, Wash. — Twenty-seven percent of people who participated in an exclusive KING 5 News Poll said cost of living will be the most important issue to them when they cast their ballots this year.
KING 5, The Seattle Times and the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public commissioned the poll conducted by SurveyUSA.
This percentage is up slightly from 25% in a poll taken three months ago. According to the poll, voters most likely to select this as their top issue include 2020 Trump voters, those who are likely but not certain to vote, Republicans, somewhat conservative voters, and voters under age 50.
The next important issue, according to the poll, is protecting democracy. Sixteen percent of voters chose this as their most important issue, down slightly from 18% this summer. Voters over 50 and 2020 Biden voters said protecting democracy is their top issue.
Border security and abortion tied for third, each at 12% and each up two points from July, but with different groups most focused on each. Border security is the top issue for very conservative voters, with 34% choosing it, eight points higher than they rate the cost of living. Abortion, meantime is the top issue for very liberal voters at 39% – twice as high as protecting democracy (20%) and climate change (18%) for these groups.
The remaining issues are in single digits:
- Climate change is most important to 9% of voters, up marginally from 8% this summer. Latinos and very liberal voters are the most likely to say climate change is their top issue.
- Homelessness is the top issue for 6%, unchanged from the previous poll. This is 14% among voters in urban Washington, 5% in rural Washington, and 2% in the suburbs.
- 5% said crime is the most important issue, down from 7% in July, and most important, at 17%, to those of Asian descent.
- 5% said guns are most important, down from 9% in July. Highest for Asian voters and those with high school educations.
- 5% said another issue is most important; 2% are not sure.