When Ohioans cast ballots this fall, they are worried about two issues: the economy and whether American democracy is in danger.
A new Suffolk University/USA TODAY Ohio pollasked 500 likely Ohio voters to name their top concerns. Nearly one in four − 24.8% −ranked threats to democracy as their top issue. And as the price of groceries, gasoline and utilities climb, the economy and inflation came in as the number one worry for 23.6% of the poll respondents.
Lewis Pittman, 78, a longtime Democrat and resident of Covedale, west of Cincinnati, said his biggest issues this year are the economy and good governance.
"On the economy, this president has just absolutely taken us down the tube with
the war and all these other issues that he has," Pittman said. "And I'm a good government type person. I really want our government to be run properly. Good government is not happening."
Sara Davis, 46, of Liberty Center, is a parochial school teacher who says she's most concerned about threats to democracy. She applies a broad definition to what is threatening, including the high cost of groceries and gas, which she pins on the war in Iran started by President Trump.
Thirty-seven percent of Democrats and 39% of respondents over age 65 named threats to democracy as their number one concern. Nearly one-third of voters in the 18 to 34 age bracket named the economy and inflation as their top issue. Twenty percent of Republicans named immigration as their top issue.
The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. That error climbs higher when looking at answers from subgroups. The poll surveyed 500 likely Ohio voters on cell phones and landlines between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27.
Poll: 3 out of 4 say Ohio economy fair or poor
Only 21% of likely voters rank Ohio's economy as excellent or good, according to the poll. Three in four say the economic conditions are fair or poor.
Rosemary Lassiter, 79, of Cleveland, said rising gasand grocery prices make it difficult to call the economy strong, though she said she can personally absorb the increases.
“The economy is OK for me because I am willing to make the sacrifice,” Lassiter said. “If I have to cut back on something, I’m willing to do it because I put family, faith and country in that order.”
Nearly 54% said that Ohio is on the wrong track, compared with 25.4% who think it's on the right track and 21% who are undecided. Sixty-one percent said the United States is on the wrong track, compared with 31% who think the country is on the right track and 8% undecided.
But Trent Fagrell, 34, an automotive engineer who lives in Delaware, said he is optimistic about Ohio and its economy. He plans to vote for Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and Jon Husted for U.S. Senate.
"I think we're on the right track. I think right now we're a pretty business friendly state," he said, pointing to the Intel and Anduril Industries projects being built in Ohio.
Davis said the country and Ohio are on the wrong track "but I hope that can change." That'll take people to do their homework and apply critical thinking skills to become more informed citizens, she said.
Some of the Suffolk poll findings align closely with the results of a Bowling Green State University poll conducted Sept. 1 to Sept. 10. Both polls had similar results when it came to naming top issues and what voters said about Ohio and the country being on the right or wrong track.
Staff writers Jordan Laird and Amani Bayo contributed to this report.
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.
What do you think the most important issues are facing Ohio before Election Day?
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Economy, threats to democracy top concerns for Ohio voters, poll finds
