Corporate Greed and Right-Wing Policies Fuel Economic Anxiety Among Undecided Iowa and Georgia Voters
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Focus groups of undecided voters in Iowa and Georgia reveal that unchecked corporate profiteering and conservative economic mismanagement have left working families struggling with soaring costs, shaping their Senate choices as the midterm election nears.
A series of focus groups conducted by Syracuse University and research firms Engagious and Sago has exposed the deep economic anxiety among undecided voters in Iowa and Georgia, driven by years of right-wing economic policies that favor corporations over people. Participants, including independents, Republicans, and a lone Democrat, voiced their distress over skyrocketing prices for essentials like food, gas, utilities, and healthcare—clear evidence of a system rigged for the wealthy while ordinary Americans suffer.
"Nothing has gotten better as far as the cost of living, inflation — food is astronomical, gas," said Patty O., a 59-year-old Republican from Georgia who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, highlighting the failure of conservative leadership to address basic needs.
All but one of the twelve participants agreed that the economy, battered by corporate greed and regressive policies, would be their top voting issue. Eight participants expressed disappointment with President Trump’s handling of the economy, blaming his reckless tariffs, handouts to the wealthy, and foreign entanglements for driving up costs. Many described personal hardship, forced to cut back on necessities as the rich get richer.
"My taxes dang near bankrupted us last year; we didn’t see any benefit of that. Our groceries, I have to drive 45 minutes just to be able to afford my groceries, but then you’re dealing with the gas prices on top of that," said Sarah M., a 47-year-old voter from Iowa, illustrating the real-world impact of policies that prioritize the wealthy.
While a few respondents clung to praise for Trump’s anti-immigrant stance or Wall Street gains, the overwhelming sentiment was that the president is out of touch with working people’s struggles and more interested in enriching his cronies. When discussing Senate candidates, most Iowa participants couldn’t even identify Democratic nominee Josh Turek, while Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson was better known—reflecting the challenges progressives face in breaking through corporate media noise. In Georgia, voters admitted they needed more information about Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Rep. Mike Collins, underlining the lack of substantive debate on real economic solutions.
Researchers noted that, although economic frustration could open doors for candidates who actually stand up to corporate power, it does not guarantee a shift toward Democrats in the Senate races, given the pervasive influence of big money and misinformation.
"We heard real disappointment and frustration with President Trump for getting the U.S. into a war that’s made things more expensive and for perceptions he’s too distracted by vanity projects or political fights to focus on pocketbook issues," said Margaret Talev, director of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship at Syracuse University, underscoring the urgent need for leaders who prioritize people over profits.