Affordable housing and prices were the two top priorities for voters heading into the final days of the New York City mayoral. Crime was third.

Voters say Zohran Mamdani prioritized affordability more than Andrew Cuomo — who instead prioritized crime.

The bigger picture is grim across both parties:
There was not a single issue a majority of Americans believed either party wanted for them.

We checked in on what voters think Democrats and Republicans want for them. The good news for Democrats is that they’re narrowly winning on “feeling stable in your personal life.” The bad news for them is that Republicans dominate on everything else: wealth, marriage, kids, and more.

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The reality is that the words “climate change” are polarizing. Mentioning “climate change” opens up a 50-point gap in support between Republicans and Democrats not present on other issues—like developing new energy sources or lowering energy prices.

The top issues that battleground voters say leaders should focus on today are affordability, healthcare, and jobs. But when asked which top three issues they think the Democratic Party is focused on, they say climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and healthcare:

Our new poll captures a complexity about American voters: They view climate change as a problem, but they want leaders to prioritize addressing other issues like affordability and healthcare.

Elected officials can and should lead on issues that they care deeply about, even if they are out of step with public opinion. However, leaders should be clear about where the public stands and not be fooled into thinking an issue is popular when it is not.

On solutions, Americans are mixed. They are most supportive of requiring local governments to approve housing that meets their standards and making permitting for new housing faster and easier, but they still really like parking spaces:

So who/what do Americans blame for high housing prices? They think the primary drivers of high costs are investors using housing for profit, the high cost of building materials, and the rent-setting power of landlords.

Americans agree that housing is too expensive. But they aren’t sure that an increase in supply will lead to lower prices: