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First poll following Wisconsin Supreme Court election shows economy a top issue for Wisconsinites living under divided government
In the first statewide bipartisan poll after historic spending and turnout in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, voters show the economy is a top concern headed into the mid-term election, with both Republicans and Democrats needing to focus on easing Wisconsinites’ concerns about their pocketbooks if they want to have success in 2026.
The latest Badger Battleground Poll, designed and commissioned by Platform Communications as part of a collaborative bipartisan effort, found:
- 40 percent of Wisconsin voters expect the economy to worsen, while 25 percent expect it to improve and 28 percent expect it to stay about the same.
- When asked what was the single most important issue to them, 14 percent brought up an economic issue – more than any other issue group – whether it was the economy in general, inflation, jobs, or other economic-related topics.
- When asked about expectations for their financial situation, 27 percent expect it to improve, 27 percent expect it to worsen, and 41 percent think things will stay the same.
“While it’s far too early to tell which party holds the upper hand heading into the 2026 midterm election, it’s clear that the economy is the most important issue in Wisconsin as Republicans gear up to tout their agenda in 2026,” said Keith Gilkes, who advised on the poll from the GOP perspective. “They’ll need to do that by listening to voters’ concerns while also showcasing how Wisconsin stands to benefit from the agenda of President Trump, whose support remains relatively strong given how dramatic of action he has taken with respect to his economic agenda in the early months of his administration.”
“To prevail in the 2026 midterms, the Democratic Party will need to zero in on the concern voters are feeling, especially around the economy,” said Tanya Bjork, a Democratic strategist. “While Wisconsin voters continue to live under a divided government, convincing voters that the Democratic ticket will put more money into their pockets will be a key to success, and that means continuing to develop an agenda and a message that shows that.”
The state’s partisan self-identification is evenly split, with 36 percent self-identifying as Democrats and 35 percent self-identifying as Republicans, while 23 percent claimed neither affiliation.
Both parties enjoy near-universal support among those who identify with that party, but Democrats currently lead among independents by a 40-28 margin. At the generic legislative level, a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican 46-41.
President Donald Trump holds a 46 percent favorable-49 percent unfavorable rating (34 strongly favorable-45 strongly unfavorable). His job approval is nearly identical at 45 approve-50 disapprove (34-45 with intensity).
Gov. Tony Evers holds a 49 favorable-42 unfavorable rating (33-37 with intensity), and a job approval of 50 percent approve-44 percent disapprove (33-34 with intensity).
To view the poll memo outlining results, visit here.
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Platform Communications recently commissioned its latest Badger Battleground Poll to survey the political landscape in Wisconsin. The Badger Battleground Poll was conducted in the field April 7-9, 2025. The poll surveyed 500 likely Wisconsin General Election voters using live telephone interviews on a combination of landlines and cell phones. The Badger Battleground Poll provides bipartisan public opinion data to influential voices in public advocacy and the public, with Keith Gilkes advising on the GOP side, Tanya Bjork advising on the Democratic side, and Platform’s senior polling advisor Brice Kornegay of BK Strategies joining the effort to field the survey.
