National Debt a Critical Election Issue for Swing State Voters
Last Updated October 23, 2024
As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 election, Vice President Harris and former President Trump are tied across swing states – and new polling shows that the national debt is a critical issue for voters in these decisive states. More than 9-in-10 voters across seven key states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — say it’s important for candidates to have a plan for the debt, including 95% of Harris voters, 97% of Trump voters and 95% of undecided voters.
Additionally, 3-in-4 voters in these battleground states say they want candidates to talk more about the debt and their plans to address it – outpacing the percentages of voters who say the same for other hot button election issues including immigration, abortion, climate change and foreign policy.
Thus far neither candidate has put forward a plan to address or $35 trillion national debt. A recent analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that Harris’s campaign plan would increase the debt by $3.50 trillion through 2035, while President Trump’s plan would increase the debt by $7.50 trillion. But there’s still time for candidates to put forward plans, and there are many policy options to choose from.

Further Reading
News from the Quarterly Treasury Refunding Statement
As borrowing has risen, the Treasury has generally been increasing the proportion of bills (maturity of one year or less) in its portfolio of marketable securities.
Moody’s Downgrade of U.S. Credit Rating Highlights Risks of Rising National Debt
For the first time ever, all three major credit ratings agencies have downgraded U.S. credit below their top rating.
New Report: Rising National Debt Will Cause Significant Damage to the U.S. Economy
On all key financial metrics, from GDP and investment to jobs to wages, the growing national debt harms future economic prospects for American citizens.