Survey finds voters want candidates who have a plan to address US debt

Voters want candidates who have a plan for addressing the national debt, which recently topped $35 trillion, according to a recent survey.

The survey found that 93% of Democrat voters and 98% of Republican voters would choose a presidential candidate with a plan to address the debt over one without a plan (95% overall), according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The results were similar for Congressional candidates.

Nearly 80% of voters want presidential candidates to discuss solutions for the rising national debt (79% more, compared to 3% less). Three-in-four voters want Congressional candidates to discuss solutions to the debt more (compared to 4% less), with 40% of voters reporting that they've yet to hear any plans to address the debt from Congressional hopefuls.

"As we approach the final months of the election campaign, voters want to hear more from their candidates about solutions for the $35 trillion and growing national debt," said Michael Peterson, CEO of the nonpartisan Peterson Foundation. "The debt is the one issue where more than nine-in-ten Democratic and Republican voters agree that they want candidates to share plans to stabilize the debt. Between now and the election, we will add $1 trillion more to the debt and 2025 brings several major fiscal decisions, so now is the time for a serious and sustained national conversation about solutions."

Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump addressed economic and spending issues in the first presidential debate in June, but neither provided a detailed plan for addressing the national debt. Since then, Biden has dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. She has yet to publicly address the issue, which has been a low priority in the presidential race so far.

Previous polls by The Center Square found that voters are concerned about the national debt but are more concerned about other issues, such as inflation and immigration.

A 2023 The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, conducted with Noble Predictive Insights, found that 65% of registered voters would opt to cut federal spending to address the growing deficit. Some 14% would rather increase taxes than cut spending. The rest were either unsure or wanted to deal with the deficit in the future.

On Monday, the U.S. national debt topped $35 trillion, having nearly tripled in the last twenty years.

"The borrowing just keeps marching along, reckless and unyielding," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.