In a poll conducted this spring by Carolina Leadership Coalition we asked North Carolina voters the top two or three issues they are concerned about.

In a previous post we covered voters’ opinions on three potential constitutional amendments.

It’s The Economy

The number one issue for voters is Inflation and Cost of Living, with 42% of voters overall, 46% of unaffiliated voters, and 33% of Republicans indicating that was one of their biggest concerns.

Similarly, Jobs and the Economy was the third highest recorded response, with 33% of voters overall identifying it as a top issue.

Conservative legislators in the North Carolina house have prioritized legislation to rein in cost of living increases, notably with a proposed constitutional amendment to limit how much local governments could increase property taxes from year to year.

Public School Education

Public School Education was the second most frequent response for voters, with 36% of voters overall and 42% of unaffiliated voters selecting it as one of their most important issues.

The announced budget framework includes significant investments in public education, with an average 8% raise for teachers and moving North Carolina to the #1 state in the region for starting teacher pay.

Who Do Voters Trust?

Overall voters slightly favor Democrats on the top issues, with a slight edge of D+4 on Inflation and Cost of Living and D+3 for Jobs and the Economy. Democrats hold a larger edge with all voters on Public School Education, with a D+9 advantage.

However, when only looking at undecided voters and persuadable voters that advantage flips decisively for Republicans. On Inflation and Cost of Living, Republicans hold a +18 advantage with undecided voters and +25 advantage among persuadable voters.

Similarly, on Jobs and the Economy Republicans have a +23 lead with undecided voters and +29 with persuadable voters.

Even on Public School Education, both undecided and persuadable voters tilt R+12.