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
Quarterly Treasury Refunding Statement: Borrowing Up Year Over Year
Key highlights from the most recent Quarterly Refunding include an increase in anticipated borrowing of $158 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.
Experts Identify Lessons from History for America Today
A distinguished group of experts to evaluate America’s current fiscal landscape with an historical perspective.
Healthcare Spending Will Be One-Fifth of the Economy Within a Decade
Healthcare spending in the United States is rising, with serious implications for the federal budget.