Public Opinion

HeaLTH in the Midterms

Health Care in the 2026 Midterm Election

This dashboard focuses on KFF’s analysis of the role health care costs and other health policy issues played in voters’ decisions in the 2026 midterm elections, including in key Senate races. It examines the role of rising health costs on voters’ decisions, views on the Trump administration’s health care policies, and opinions on the government’s role in health care amid discussions of Medicare for All.

Abortion on the Ballot in 2026: Polling Insights from Voters in Four States

This dashboard provides KFF’s analysis of the role abortion played in voters’ decisions in the 2026 midterm elections, with a focus on four states with abortion-related ballot measures: Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia. It examines support for each of the measures across groups, including additional questions in Missouri.

What Do the Midterm Election Results Mean for Health Care? 

Event Date:

On November 5 at Noon ET, join KFF for a special post-election discussion and live “What the Health” podcast taping. Part of the discussion will focus on public opinion survey data on how voters weighed health care as they went to the polls nationally and in the four states with abortion-related ballot initiatives. 

Midterm Voters Give Democrats a Big Advantage to Handle Health Care

Quick Insights

KFF’s analysis of the 2026 Voter Poll by SSRS shows midterm voters gave Democrats a 19-percentage-point advantage on which party is better able to handle health care. Voters also gave Democrats a narrow edge on handling the economy (43% vs. 37%), a reversal from 2024, when Trump had a 10-point advantage over Harris. "In an election focused on affordability, Democrats’ messaging on health care costs appears to have resonated with voters and may have contributed to the party’s gains."

KFF/AP Survey of RURAL VOTERS

Health Information and Trust

About Half of Parents Mistakenly Believe Spacing Out Vaccines Is Healthier for Children; Half Say No Strong Evidence to Support Such a Claim

KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Fall 2026 Update on Vaccine Views

The latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds about half of parents mistakenly believe spacing out vaccines is healthier for children, while confidence in many long-standing childhood vaccines is high across partisans. These findings take on new relevance following President Trump’s recent executive order calling for changes in U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations, including splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—currently given as a single combined shot—into three separate vaccines across multiple visits.

Dashboard: Polling on Health Information and Trust

Drawing on KFF’s poll findings, this interactive dashboard tracks the public’s trusted sources for health information, attitudes toward vaccines, and use of news, social media, and AI for health-related information.

Health Tracking PollS

Democrats Hold a Nearly 2-to-1 Advantage Over Republicans on Handling the Cost of Health Care

Health Care Issues in the Lead-Up to the 2026 Midterm Election 

In the lead up to the midterms, health care costs remained tied with gas as voters’ top midterm concerns. Two-thirds of U.S. adults also favored Medicare-for-all, a new high in KFF Polling, but support shifts when competing claims from critics and proponents are heard.

Most Democratic Voters Want To Hear Candidates Discuss Health Costs and Future of Health Programs; More Republicans Focused on Fraud

Public Views on Fraud in Health Programs

As the 2026 midterms approach, health care costs remain voters’ top health priority, but fraud in government health programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, is resonating with Republican voters, 55% of whom say it’s extremely important for candidates to address.

Mifepristone and the Midterms

Amid an ongoing FDA re-review of mifepristone, awareness of the safety and prevalence of the abortion pill remains limited. This KFF poll also finds that the voters who say abortion policy is an important issue for 2026 midterm candidates to discuss are disproportionately Democrats.

MAHA and the Midterms

This KFF Health Tracking Poll finds that the cost of health care is a more prominent focus for Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) voters than issues like food and vaccine policy. Four in ten MAHA voters (42%) choose lowering health costs as the most important health priority, outranking other MAHA priorities.

the essentials

Health Tracking Poll

Our signature survey project provides up-to-date data on the public’s health care views, knowledge, and experiences.

Tracking the Public’s Views on the ACA

Tracking the Public’s Views on the ACA

This interactive tool tracks public opinion on the Affordable Care Act, from the inception of the law to the present, including trends based on party identification, income, age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll

The Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll is part of KFF’s Health Information and Trust Initiative, which tracks health misinformation and analyzes its impact on the public.

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  • AIDS… A Crisis Among African-American Youth

    Fact Sheet

    A fact sheet on HIV, how it is transmitted, how to protect yourself against HIV, and information on testing and treatments for HIV. This fact sheet is available as part of a partnership with BET Teen Summit Town Hall specials. Fact Sheet

  • Kaiser/Harvard Health News Index September/October 1998

    Poll Finding

    Health News Index September/October, 1998 The September/October 1998 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard Health News Index includes questions about major health stories covered in the news, including questions about the Uninsured, Late Term Abortions and Emergency Contraception. The survey is based on a national sample of 1,202 Americans conducted October 10-18, 1998 which measures public knowledge on health stories covered in the news media during the previous month. The Health News Index is designed…

  • Will 1999 Be The Year For Mifepristone (RU-486) And, An Update on Women’s Other Options for Very Early Abortion – Fact Sheet

    Fact Sheet

    Abortion in the U.S. Most abortions in the U.S. today are performed surgically, typically using vacuum aspiration (VA). 9 in 10 abortions occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.5 Surgical abortions can be performed as early as pregnancy is first detected, using electric VA or manual vacuum aspiration (MVA).21 Medical abortions are procedures using medications to induce abortion, such as mifepristone (also called RU-486) or methotrexate in combination with misoprostol. Unintended Pregnancy And Surgical…

  • Kaiser/Harvard Survey of Americans on the Consumer Protection Debate

    Report

    The survey was designed and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University; and was conducted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates with 1,200 adults, 18 years or older, nationwide, between August 6 and August 20, 1998. TOPLINE Download CHARTPACK Download NEWS RELEASE Download

  • Two National Surveys: Views of Americans and Health Care Providers on Medical Abortion

    Other Post

    Will 1999 Be The Year For Mifepristone (RU-486)?And, An Update on Women's Other Options for Very Early Abortion September 16, 1998 Briefing Participants: Janet Benshoof PresidentCenter for Reproductive Law & Policy120 Wall Street, 18th FloorNew York, NY 10005Press Contact: Margie Kelly212/514-5534 Jacqueline E. Darroch, PhDSenior Vice PresidentThe Alan Guttmacher Institute120 Wall StreetNew York, NY 10005 Vanessa Northington Gamble, MD, PhDAssociate ProfessorHistory of Medicine and Family Medicine, and DirectorCenter for the Study of Race and Ethnicity…

  • Kaiser/Harvard Survey of Americans on the Consumer Protection Debate – News Release

    Other Post

    New Survey Finds The Public More Worried About Managed Care And More Supportive Of Patient Protection Legislation, But Criticisms Still Register September 17 1998 Most Say Congress is Playing Politics with Patients Rights in an Election Year Washington, D.C. - A new survey released today shows that Americans are increasingly concerned about managed care and support for consumer protection proposals has grown. However, criticisms by opponents that regulation will drive up costs and cause employers…

  • Will 1999 Be The Year For Mifepristone (RU-486) And, An Update on Women’s Other Options for Very Early Abortion

    Fact Sheet

    While there has been much attention to the few abortions that occur late in pregnancy, there has been little focus on what options are available during the early weeks, even days, of pregnancy, when most women seek abortions. The drugs mifepristone (also known as RU-486) and misoprostol have been available in France, England, and Sweden for much of the last decade as an earlier medical alternative to surgical abortion. Since becoming available, an estimated one-half…

  • Will 1999 Be The Year For Mifepristone (Ru-486)? And, An Update on Women’s Other Options for Very Early Abortion

    Other Post

    National Survey of Women's Health Care Providers on Medical Abortion September 16, 1998 One in Two Ob/Gyns Say They are Likely to Offer Mifepristone (RU-486) If Approved by FDA, And Almost Half Who Do Not Now Provide Abortions Say They Would Provide the Medical Alternative Many Family Practice Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician AssistantsAlso Report Interest Menlo Park, CA - In the coming year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to complete its…

  • Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health 2

    Other Post

    16. Do you think sex education courses should ONLY teach abstinence -- that is NOT having sex until marriage -- OR should courses teach about BOTH abstinence AND give teens enough information to help them prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases if they DO decide to have sex? 18 Only abstinence 81 Both 8 Don't know/Refused 100 17. Do you think that HIGH SCHOOL health clinics should provide young people with…

  • Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health 1

    Other Post

    30. Are you currently involved in a sexual relationship? Based on those not currently married or living as married; n=479 38 Yes 60 No 2 Don't know/Refused 100 CURRENT RELATIONSHIP STATUS (Q29, Q30):60 Married/Living as 15 Unmarried and involved 24 Unmarried and not involved 1 Don't know/Refused 100 31. How long have you (been married /been together with this person)? Based on those married, living as married, or involved in a sexual relationship; n=916 20…