Mamdani's focus on public transit and childcare also broke through.

He likely benefited from voters identifying those issues as part of his wider platform on the cost of living.

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

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Right now, voters across the country are seeing their energy bills skyrocket. They want leaders to prioritize immediate cost relief on their utility bills — not long-term solutions like energy upgrades or cheaper EVs.

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.

These results mirror a January @nytimes.com poll that found voters ranking economic issues as their top focus, but seeing neither the Democratic nor Republican Parties matching their issue priorities: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...

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:

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