Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? 2026

Survey Topics: Low-Income Assistance Healthcare Housing Affordability Artificial Intelligence

For Release: August 6, 2026

Bipartisan Majorities in the Battlegrounds Agree: SNAP Benefits, Medicaid, EITC, Minimum Wage Should Be Increased

Amid ongoing political debates about spending on low-income assistance programs, new surveys in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive congressional districts reveal bipartisan common ground in favor of the federal government providing more assistance to low-income households.

When given the option to increase, decrease or maintain current levels, majorities of both Democrats and Republicans favored:

Increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps
Increasing federal spending on Medicaid, to provide health insurance to more low-income people
Raising the federal minimum wage

Proposals to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income workers without children, and expand eligibility, are also favored by majorities of both Democrats and Republicans.

Steven Kull, Director of the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation (PPC), noted, “To help low-income families afford healthcare and groceries, majorities of Americans across parties and all income levels favor more government assistance.”

Common Ground in the Battlegrounds?

This survey release is the fourth in the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? survey series being conducted by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC) in the run-up to the November election in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts.

Surveys on eleven additional topics will be released on a rolling basis between now and the midterm elections, covering over 100 specific policy questions. The policies – most of which are pending in Congress – were chosen because surveys by PPC and others consistently found majority Republican and Democratic agreement nationally. The results for all individual states and districts can be found here. Previously released surveys include: Artificial Intelligence, Housing and Healthcare.

SNAP Benefits

Majorities of Democrats (71 to 93%) and Republicans (58 to 87%) say monthly benefits for individuals living alone should be higher than the current average of $170. Nationally, 88% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans say benefits should be higher.

Across the battleground states and districts surveyed, as a whole, the median Democrat says SNAP benefits for individuals living alone should be $250, and the median Republican $230. Nationally, the median Democrat proposes $250 and the median Republican $200.

For monthly SNAP benefits to single mothers, majorities of Democrats (58 to 80%) say it should be higher than the current average of $530. Among Republicans in ten states and 19 districts, majorities say the benefit should be higher (51 to 73%). In one state and nine districts, a majority of Republicans do not support an increase, but in no cases do a majority favor reductions. Nationally, 67% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans say benefits should be higher.

Across the battleground states and districts surveyed as a whole, the median Democrat says monthly SNAP benefits for single mothers should be $600, and the median Republican $554. Nationally, the median Democrat proposes $600 and the median Republican $550.

The government providing discounts on fruit and vegetables bought with SNAP benefits is favored by over two-thirds of both Democrats (78 to 97%) and Republicans (68 to 93%). Nationally, 93% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans are in favor.

Spending on Medicaid

Given the option to increase federal spending on Medicaid and cover more people, keep it the same, or decrease it and cover fewer people, majorities of Democrats (74 to 91%) and Republicans (51 to 83%) say it should be increased. Nationally, 83% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans choose to increase spending. (This survey finding was previously released on July 30.)

The Federal Minimum Wage

Told that the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and asked to specify how much they think it should be, overwhelming majorities of Democrats (90 to 99%) and Republicans (80 to 96%) chose a higher wage. Nationally, 97% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans chose to raise it.

Across the battleground states and districts as a whole, the median Democrat says it should be $15 an hour, and the median Republican $12. Nationally, the median Democrat also proposes $15 and the median Republican $11.

Tax Credits for Low-Income Workers Without Children

Bipartisan majorities favor several proposals to expand and increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), specifically for low-income workers without children (who receive substantially less benefits than workers with children).

Raising the limit on the maximum amount of the EITC credit from $630 to $1,300 a year is favored by large majorities of Democrats (79 to 90%) and Republicans (64 to 85%). Nationally, 82% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans are in favor.

Raising the limit on the amount of savings people can have and still get the EITC credit (for individuals from $18,500 to $24,000; for married couples from $25,500 to $33,000) is favored by over two-thirds of Democrats (76 to 89%) and Republicans (68 to 86%). Nationally, 87% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans are in favor.

Lowering the age of eligibility from 25 to 21 is favored by majorities of Democrats (62 to 84%) and Republicans (52 to 71%). Nationally, 76% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans are in favor.

Support by Income Level

A separate analysis was conducted on the aggregate sample of all states and districts to determine the views of each of these policies by household income. Large majorities of people of all income levels – from under $30,000 to over $150,000 – support increasing SNAP benefits, spending on Medicaid, the EITC, and the minimum wage.

More Information

About the Surveys

The state and district surveys used for this analysis were fielded May 27 – June 25, 2026, to a total of 19,564 adults, including 600-2,000 in each of the 11 states, and 400-500 in each of the 28 congressional districts. The response rates were 7.1 to 9.0%. The confidence intervals range from +/- 2.9 to 7.6%, and the maximum weights range from 1.9 to 6.9.

The national survey was fielded February 11-26, 2026, with 2,509 adults. The response rate was 7.6%. The confidence interval is +/- 2.9%, and the maximum weight is 2.51.

Sample was obtained from multiple online opt-in panels, including Cint, Dynata and Prodege. Sample collection and quality control was managed by QuantifyAI under the direction of the Program for Public Consultation. The surveys were offered in both English and Spanish.

The samples were pre-stratified and weighted by age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, household income, marital status, and home ownership to match the general adult population. The national sample was further weighted by Census region. Partisan distributions in each sample were within expectations, based on voter registration or Cook’s Partisan Voting Index, or weighted to reflect those benchmarks.

About the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? Survey Series

This series will include surveys in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts and be released on a rolling basis between now and the mid‑term elections. Surveys will cover 15 topics and include over 100 specific policy questions.

The goal of this effort is to reveal the public’s views – in competitive states and districts – focusing on policy questions that have elicited bipartisan agreement nationally. The project seeks to educate the public, policymakers, and candidates about the findings; and provide journalists with independent, nonpartisan research that brings the public into the conversation about public policy.

Project partners include the Program for Public Consultation (PPC), the Civic Innovation Center at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy (CivIC), and Voice of the People (VOP). None of these entities advocate for policy positions or endorse candidates.

Program for Public Consultation

The Program for Public Consultation (PPC), affiliated with the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, develops and conducts public consultation surveys, in which respondents are informed about and deliberate on policy solutions being proposed by elected officials, and give their recommendations. It seeks to improve democratic governance by consulting representative samples of citizens on key public policy proposals, and sharing its findings with officials in government, the media, other academics, and the general public.

Civic Innovation Center

The Civic Innovation Center (CivIC) at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy works to strengthen the foundations of civic health. It contributes to important debates about civic education, civic engagement, and needed democratic reforms in the state of Maryland and nationwide, in partnership with other BIG 10 universities. It works to build the connective tissue that brings together students, scholars and practitioners to help elevate the UMD community’s contribution to our wider democracy.

Voice of the People

Voice of the People (VOP) is a nonpartisan organization working to re-anchor our democracy in its founding principles by giving ‘We the People’ a greater and more effective voice in government. It champions innovative methods and technology that enable the American people to play a role in the policymaking process and provide policymakers with a more accurate understanding of the views of their constituents.

For Release: July 30, 2026; 9:00 AM Eastern

On Healthcare Costs: In Battleground States and Districts, Republicans and Democrats Agree On Proposals to Lower Prices, Expand Coverage

COLLEGE PARK, MD – With healthcare costs continuing to rank among Americans’ top concerns, new surveys conducted in 11 competitive states and 28 congressional districts reveal common ground between Democrats and Republicans on proposals to reduce costs and increase access to health insurance.

Proposals for making drugs more affordable are supported by large majorities of Democrats and Republicans, including:

capping the price of prescription drugs to the price they are sold for in other developed countries
reforming patent laws to bring more generic drugs on to the market

To increase access to health insurance, large bipartisan majorities favor restoring the recently expired enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which will lower the cost of insurance.

While Congress has scheduled reductions in future Medicaid spending, the surveys find little public support for this – less than one in four Democrats or Republicans. Instead, large bipartisan majorities favor actually increasing spending on Medicaid to provide coverage to more low-income households.

The surveys find strong bipartisan majority support – at least two-thirds of Democrats and Republicans – for expanding government insurance options, including:

allowing people 55-64 to purchase a Medicare plan
creating a government-run health insurance plan that anyone can buy into (i.e., a public option)

For treatment of substance use disorder, bipartisan majorities favor the government investing billions of dollars more to help ensure access for all who need and want it.

These policies are derived from recent or existing Congressional legislation or White House proposals.

Steven Kull, Director of the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation (PPC), noted, “Americans are supportive of the federal government using many more tools to ensure access to healthcare. While political debate often emphasizes partisan disagreement, these surveys reveal substantial agreement on a number of specific policy solutions.”

Common Ground in the Battlegrounds?

This survey release is the third in the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? survey series being conducted by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC) in the run-up to the November election in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts.

Surveys on a total of fifteen topics will be released on a rolling basis until the midterm elections, covering over 100 specific policy questions. The policies – most of which are pending in Congress – were chosen because surveys by PPC and others consistently found majority Republican and Democratic agreement nationally. The results for all individual states and districts can be found here.

Reducing the Cost of Drugs

Overwhelming bipartisan majorities favor the government setting maximum prices for drugs sold in the US, based on what the drugs are sold for in other developed countries (which is about half the price on average). Over eight in ten Democrats (80 to 96%) and Republicans (81 to 95%) are in favor. Nationally, 86% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans are in favor, and 86% overall.

Large bipartisan majorities favor a proposal to bring more generic drugs to market by making it “illegal for drug companies – whose patent on a drug has come to an end – to pay generic drug companies to hold off making and selling that drug.” (Democrats 69 to 89%, Republicans 71 to 86%). Nationally, 77% of Democrats and 79% of Republicans are in favor, and 76% overall.

Over two-thirds favor another patent reform proposal intended to lower drug prices: allowing the federal government to override a company’s drug patent and license other companies to produce that drug, if the government determines the price is unaffordable, and the drug was developed with federal funding. (Democrats 70 to 87%, Republicans 68 to 90%). Nationally, 78% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans are in favor, and 79% overall.

Reinstating Enhanced ACA Subsidies

Reducing premiums and deductibles for health insurance bought on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, by reinstating the enhanced subsidies that expired this year, is favored by 83 to 94% of Democrats and 65 to 85% of Republicans. Nationally, 90% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans are in favor.

Spending on Medicaid

Expanding Government Health Insurance

Allowing people aged 55 years or older to purchase a Medicare plan is favored by 74 to 92% of Democrats and 66 to 87% of Republicans. Nationally, 84% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans are in favor.

Creating a “government-run public option (similar to Medicare) and allow all individuals who want to buy into it,” is favored by large majorities of Democrats (77 to 93%) and Republicans (66 to 84%). Nationally, 79% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans are in favor.

Funding for Substance Abuse Treatment

Large bipartisan majorities favor increasing federal spending on substance abuse treatment by $13 billion, “which would mean nearly all people who want and need treatment would get it” (Democrats 68 to 91%, Republicans 57 to 91%). Nationally, 93% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans are in favor.

In general, ensuring that every person who needs and wants substance use treatment can get it is seen as a high priority by overwhelming majorities (Democrats 89 to 97%, Republicans 75 to 95%). Nationally, 93% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans say the same.

More Information

About the Surveys

The national survey was fielded February 11-26, 2026, with 2,509 adults. The response rate was 7.6%. The confidence interval is +/- 2.9%, and the maximum weight is 2.5.

The samples were pre-stratified and weighted by age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, household income, region, marital status, and home ownership to match the respective adult population. The national sample was also weighted by Census region and partisan affiliation. In the state and district samples, the distribution of partisan affiliation were within expectations, based on voter registration for non-leaners and/or Cook’s Partisan Voting Index for leaners, or weighted to reflect those benchmarks.

About the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? Survey Series

The Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? project will conduct and release a survey series in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts that will be released on a rolling basis between now and the midterm elections. Surveys will cover 15 topics and include over 100 specific policy questions. The goal of this effort is to determine where there is bipartisan common ground in competitive states and districts across the nation. Additionally, the project seeks to educate the public, policymakers and candidates about the findings; and provide journalists with independent, nonpartisan research that brings the public into the conversation about public policy.

In addition to PPC, project partners include the Civic Innovation Center at the University of Maryland (CivIC), and Voice of the People (VOP), a national nonpartisan organization seeking to give the public a greater voice in government. None of these entities advocate for policy positions or endorse candidates.

Program for Public Consultation

Civic Innovation Center

Voice of the People

Voice Of the People (VOP) is a nonpartisan organization working to re-anchor our democracy in its founding principles by giving ‘We the People’ a greater and more effective voice in government. It champions innovative methods and technology that enable the American people to play a role in the policymaking process and provide policymakers with a more accurate understanding of the views of their constituents.

For Release: July 23, 2026; 9:00 AM Eastern

On Housing Affordability: In Competitive States and Districts, Bipartisan Majorities Favor Going Further Than Newly-Enacted Law

COLLEGE PARK, MD – While Democrats and Republicans in Congress recently came together to pass legislation addressing the cost of housing, new surveys in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive congressional districts shows that majorities of both Democrats and Republicans favor policies that go substantially further.

The recently-enacted law provides more tax incentives to build or repair affordable housing, which large bipartisan majorities favor, but they also favor the government investing tens of billions of dollars to help build more housing affordable to low- and middle-income households.

Large bipartisan majorities also favor the government providing an additional $24 billion in rental assistance for the very low-income, elderly and disabled. The new law does not include an increase in spending on rental assistance.

Under the new law, corporations are prohibited from owning more than 350 single-family homes, but bipartisan majorities in all competitive states and districts surveyed favor a more restrictive policy of prohibiting large corporations from owning any single-family homes.

The policy questions included in the survey were derived from federal legislative proposals.

Steven Kull, Director of the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation (PPC) noted, “While many of the proposals in the bipartisan legislation that just passed are consistent with the public’s goals for housing, large majorities of Democrats and Republicans favor the government going much further in both investment and regulation.”

Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? Survey Series

This release is the second in the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? survey series being conducted by PPC in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts in advance of the midterm elections.

Surveys on fifteen topics will be released on a rolling basis, covering over 100 specific policy questions. The policies – most of which are pending legislative proposals in Congress – have elicited bipartisan agreement nationally. PPC is exploring whether the same bipartisan common ground found at the national level exists in the battlegrounds. The results for all individual states and districts surveyed can be found here.

Providing Tax Credits to Build Affordable Housing

A proposal for the federal government to provide, “tax incentives to home builders to build or repair homes affordable to low- and middle-income households” – consistent with the new law – was favored by over two thirds of Democrats (77 to 93%) and Republicans (71 to 87%) in all competitive states and districts surveyed. Nationally, 88% of Democrats and 80% of Republicans were in favor.

Investing Billions to Build Affordable Housing

Unlike the recent law, two legislative proposals call for substantial federal investments in affordable high density housing (e.g. apartment buildings, duplexes and triplexes). Both proposals receive bipartisan majority support in all states and most districts.

For very low- and low-income households, investing $40 billion to increase high-density affordable housing supply is favored by 69 to 91% of Democrats. Among Republicans, majorities were in favor in all states and nearly all districts (52 to 81%), with divided views in two of the 28 House districts (49% favor). Nationally, 86% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans were in favor.
For low- and middle-income households, providing $25 billion to local governments to increase high-density affordable housing supply is favored by 77 to 91% of Democrats. Among Republicans, majorities were in favor in all states and nearly all House districts (58 to 77%). In two of the 28 House districts, slightly under half of Republicans were in favor (45 and 49%). Nationally, 84% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans were in favor.

Increasing Rental Assistance

Over three-quarters of Democrats (80 to 93%) and majorities of Republicans (58 to 83%) favored, “spending up to $24 billion to provide more vouchers to help people pay rent who are very low income, disabled or elderly.” Nationally, 89% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans were in favor. The new housing law does not increase funding for rental vouchers.

Banning Large Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes

While the new housing law prohibits corporations from owning more than 350 single-family homes, large bipartisan majorities favored prohibiting large corporations from owning any: Democrats 76 to 89%, Republicans 64 to 86%. Nationally, 82% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans were in favor.

More Information

About the Surveys

The state and district surveys used for this analysis were fielded May 27 – June 25, 2026, to a total of 19,564 adults, including at least 600 in each of the 11 states, and at least 400 in each of the 28 congressional districts. The response rates were 7.1 to 9.0%. The confidence intervals range from +/- 2.9 to 7.6%, and the maximum weights range from 1.9 to 6.9.

The national survey was fielded March 11-19, 2026 with 1,200 adults nationally. The response rate was 8.3%. The confidence interval is +/- 2.9%, and the maximum weight is 1.9.

About the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? Survey Series

Program for Public Consultation

Civic Innovation Center

Voice of the People

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2026

On Artificial Intelligence: In Competitive States and Districts, Large Bipartisan Majorities Agree on Proposals for Regulation

AI First of 15 Topics in Common Ground in the Battlegrounds?
Survey Series to Run Through the Midterm Elections

COLLEGE PARK, MD – As artificial intelligence becomes integrated into more aspects of the economy and society, new surveys in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive congressional districts reveal common ground between Democrats and Republicans on proposals to regulate artificial intelligence.

Large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans favor the federal government:

creating a federal agency devoted to monitoring and regulating AI
requiring existing and new AI programs that make critical decisions to pass a government test (e.g. health insurance claims, hiring, etc.)
requiring deepfakes be labelled as such
prohibiting political campaigns from using deepfakes

Large bipartisan majorities favor the U.S. working with other nations to create international treaties:

regulating large-scale AI programs
banning weapons that can fire on targets without a direct human command

In nearly all of the competitive states and districts surveyed, all proposals received two-thirds support among both Democrats and Republicans.

The domestic proposals tested are derived from congressional legislation, and the international ones come from international organizations, including the United Nations and Red Cross.

Steven Kull, Director of the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation (PPC) noted, “We’re surveying to determine how much common ground there is in battleground states and districts. In this first survey, it is clear there is broad agreement among Democrats and Republicans that the federal government should play an active role in regulating artificial intelligence.”

Common Ground in the Battlegrounds?

This survey release is the first in the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? survey series being conducted by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC) in the run-up to the November election in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts.

Surveys on fourteen additional topics will be released on a rolling basis between now and the mid-term elections, covering over 100 specific policy questions. The policies – most of which are pending in Congress – were chosen because surveys by PPC and others consistently found majority Republican and Democratic agreement nationally. The results for all individual states and districts can be found here.

New Federal Agency to Oversee AI

Creating a new federal agency to, “monitor new AI programs and try to anticipate potential problems, define best practices for developing and using AI programs, make policy recommendations, and enforce regulation,” was favored by bipartisan majorities in all battleground states and districts surveyed. Among Democrats 76 to 89% were in favor, among Republicans 66 to 85%, and overall in the battlegrounds 75 to 83%. Nationally, 85% of Democrats were in favor, 79% of Republicans, and 80% overall.

Regulating AI Programs That Make Critical Decisions

Bipartisan majorities in all battleground states and districts surveyed favored two proposals to regulate, “AI programs that make decisions that can have significant impacts on people (e.g. in health insurance claims, loan applications, hiring, etc.),” that aim to ensure they, “follow regulations, have data privacy and security protections, and do not have unintended biases.”

Requiring new AI programs that will make critical decisions first pass a government-designed test was favored by 65 to 88% of Democrats, 69 to 91% of Republicans, and 71 to 85% overall across the battlegrounds. Nationally, the proposal was favored by 82% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 78% overall.

Allowing the government to audit AI programs that are already being used to make critical decisions, was favored by 59 to 83% of Democrats, 59 to 80% of Republicans, and 58 to 77% overall across the battlegrounds. Nationally, the proposal was favored by 77% of Democrats, 73% of Republicans, and 74% overall.

Regulating Deepfakes

Two proposals to regulate AI-generated images, video and audio, known as deepfakes, are favored by bipartisan majorities in all battleground states and districts surveyed.

Requiring that any deepfakes, “distributed publicly – e.g. posted online or shown on TV – must have a label that states that it is not real and was generated by AI,” was favored by 84 to 95% of Democrats, 80 to 93% of Republicans, and 82 to 91% overall across the battlegrounds. Nationally, the proposal was favored by 88% of Democrats, 89% of Republicans, and 86% overall.

A proposal to, “prohibit political campaigns, including PACs, from using deepfakes in their campaign advertisements,” was favored by 71 to 93% of Democrats, 76 to 90% of Republicans, and 77 to 88% overall across the battlegrounds. Nationally, the proposal was favored by 83% of Democrats, 85% of Republicans, and 82% overall.

Creating an International Treaty to Regulate Large Scale AI

The US working with other nations to “create an international treaty to regulate large-scale AI programs,” was favored by bipartisan majorities in all battleground states and districts surveyed (70 to 89% of Democrats, 63 to 85% of Republicans, 70 to 84% overall across the battlegrounds). Nationally, this was favored by 82% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 77% overall.

Banning Nations from Developing Fully Autonomous Weapons

Bipartisan majorities in all battleground states and districts surveyed favored the US working with other nations to, “create an international treaty that would prohibit the development and use of AI-powered weapons that can fire on targets without a direct human command” (62 to 90% of Democrats, 59 to 87% of Republicans, 69 to 84% overall across the battlegrounds). Nationally, this was favored by 82% of Democrats, 81% of Republicans, and 79% overall.

More Information

About the Surveys

The state and district surveys used for this analysis were fielded May 27 – June 25, 2026, to a total of 19,564 adults, including at least 600 in each of the 11 states, and at least 400 in each of the 27 congressional districts. The response rates were 7.1 to 9.0%. The confidence intervals range from +/- 2.9 to 7.6%, and the maximum weights range from 1.9 to 6.9.

The national survey was fielded February 11-26, 2026 with 2,509 adults. The response rate was 7.6%. The confidence interval is +/- 2.9%, and the maximum weight is 2.5.

About the Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? Project

The Common Ground in the Battlegrounds? project will conduct and release a survey series in 11 competitive states and 28 competitive U.S. House districts that will be released on a rolling basis between now and the mid-term elections. Surveys will cover 15 topics and include over 100 specific policy questions. The goal of this effort is to determine where there is bipartisan common ground in competitive states and districts across the nation. Additionally, the project seeks to educate the public, policymakers and candidates about the findings; and provide journalists with independent, nonpartisan research that brings the public into the conversation about public policy.

In addition to PPC, project partners include the Civic Innovation Center at the University of Maryland (CivIC), and Voice of the People (VOP), a national nonpartisan organization seeking to give the public a greater voice in government. None of these entities advocate for policy positions or endorse candidates.