The U.S. national debt recently surpassed $40 trillion, and this election season, voters are calling on candidates to put forward fiscal solutions.

In August, the Peterson Foundation released a new survey of 1,002 voters that includes Americans’ views on the nation’s fiscal health and what elected officials must do to earn their votes this November.

In response to open-ended questions in the survey, jointly conducted by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research, voters have a clear message for candidates: It’s time to take the debt seriously and present a concrete plan to address it.

Voters Call for Urgency, Connect Debt to Affordability

The survey asked an open-ended question about what voters would say to elected officials and candidates about the national debt crossing $40 trillion.  A large plurality (40 percent) of voters call for urgency and seriousness in addressing the debt, showing broad agreement across party lines and demographics. This includes support from voters in key battleground states.

• “This needs to be seriously addressed and a solid plan put in place to correct it.” —Republican woman, Alabama, 65 years old
• “I would say that this should be a main priority and that we need a plan in place to reduce our national debt.” —Democratic man, Washington, 23 years old
• “Now is the time to deal with the debt. We can't keep kicking the can down the road. Stand up and do your job.” —Republican man, Georgia, 65 years old
• “Act now to curb spending and slow debt growth. This path burdens future generations with higher inflation and interest costs. We need fiscal responsibility.” —Independent man, Texas, 35 years old

Some voters center affordability concerns in their message to leaders, tying the heightened levels of national debt to the rising cost of living.

• “We need to have a plan to decrease the national debt as soon as possible so the people won't be affected by inflation.” —Republican man, Florida, 27 years old
• “They must find a way to get a grip on the debt because American families are truly struggling with the rising cost of everything.” —Independent man, Georgia, 39 years old
• “The national debt is the backbone of our economy. If we do not address this issue, the cost of living will continue to rise, and prices will get too high to survive.” —Democratic woman, Missouri, 37 years old
• “The American people cannot take it anymore. The cost of living has risen through the roof. You need to do something and you need to do it quickly.” —Republican woman, Texas, 71 years old

Overwhelmingly, Rising Debt Will Impact Votes in November

The survey also asked an open-ended question about how the rising debt will impact their vote in November. Even before hearing information about the size of the debt, more than eight in ten voters (86 percent) say that having a plan to address the national debt is a factor in deciding their support. After being informed about the debt exceeding $40 trillion, only 10 percent of voters expect that the debt will not affect how they vote.

• "I won’t even think about voting for anyone that doesn’t have a road map to fixing the debt.” —Democratic man, California, 27 years old
• “The national debt would be an important factor in my vote. I would support candidates with a concrete, credible plan to reduce deficits and control debt growth, rather than relying on general promises.” –Independent man, Florida, 30 years old
• “Regardless which party the candidate is from, if she/he has a viable plan for reducing the national debt they will get my vote.” —Republican man, Illinois, 72 years old
• “The national debt will be an important factor in my vote and I’ll favor candidates with a credible plan to manage the debt responsibly.” —Republican man, North Carolina, 38 years old
• “I will not be voting for any candidate unless they have a clear plan to change the debt and boost the economy.” —Democratic woman, Ohio, 31 years old

Conclusion

Voters understand that the national debt has become too big to ignore as a major factor in America’s affordability crisis. They are deeply concerned that the rising debt is driving up inflation and interest rates, making household decisions from groceries to mortgages more expensive. As Americans connect the dots between Washington's fiscal choices and their own economic challenges, they are overwhelmingly ready to support candidates in the upcoming midterm elections who have a clear plan of action to put the nation on a stronger, more affordable, and more sustainable fiscal path.

Photo by Getty Images/Jim Vondruska