Engage asked likely 2026 women voters not who they were voting for, but how they are feeling, what worries them most, and what they want from their elected leaders. The survey was led by two women, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners and Republican pollster Amanda Iovino of Pantheon Insight. The answer was consistent across party lines.
Women outnumber, outvote, and outlive men, and it turns out they agree with each other more than Washington gives them credit for.
Rachel Pearson, founder of Engage
95 percent of women voters say it is important that elected officials from both parties work together to address the country's challenges, and 76 percent say it is very important. The very-important figure holds across party lines: 76 percent of Republican women, 75 percent of Democratic women and 77 percent of Independent women.
58 percent of women voters name cost of living one of the three most important issues facing the country today, more than any other issue tested. Asked in their own words, with no list to choose from, 63 percent raise economic conditions and affordability.
No one going hungry is the highest-rated value in the survey, with 82 percent calling it very important, followed by clean air and water at 80 percent and freedom from violence at 79 percent.
Women describe themselves more in resilient terms than negative ones. "Mentally healthy" describes 70 percent of women well and "resilient" describes 69 percent, both ahead of "stressed" at 44 percent.
50 percent of women use AI often or sometimes, and 23 percent say they never do. On telling real content from AI-generated content on social media, 50 percent say they are confident and 16 percent say they are very confident.
The State of the Majority survey was designed and administered by Lake Research Partners and Pantheon Insight. The online survey reached 800 likely 2026 women voters nationwide and was conducted July 23 to 30, 2026. Data are statistically weighted so the sample's demographic and political composition reflects that of likely 2026 women voters nationwide.
Press contact: Kelsey Beymer, kelsey@engagewomen.org. To schedule an interview with Rachel Pearson, contact Sarah Schlotfeldt of CS Graham Group at sarah@csgrahamgroup.com or 267-207-4300.
