More Voters Think War With Iran Will Make The World Less Safe, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Healthcare Costs Top List Of Financial Concerns For Voters
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With the Iran war in its fourth week, a plurality of voters (42 percent) think the war with Iran will make the world less safe, while 35 percent think it will make the world safer and 20 percent think it will make no difference, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today.
There are sharp partisan divides.
Among Republicans, 79 percent think the war with Iran will make the world safer, while 8 percent think it will make the world less safe and 11 percent think it will make no difference.
Among independents, 25 percent think the war with Iran will make the world safer, while 49 percent think it will make the world less safe and 22 percent think it will make no difference.
Among Democrats, 2 percent think the war with Iran will make the world safer, while 74 percent think it will make the world less safe and 22 percent think it will make no difference.
"Is this war in the best interest of the world's welfare? There is a yawning divide between Democrats and Republicans, and independents are clearly skeptical," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
HOW THE WAR IS GOING
Fifty-two percent of voters think the war with Iran has gone about the way they expected it to go for the United States, 13 percent think the war has gone better than they expected, and 28 percent think the war has gone worse than they expected it to go for the United States.
Among Republicans, 58 percent think the war with Iran has gone about the way they expected it to go for the United States, 31 percent think the war has gone better than they expected, and 6 percent think the war has gone worse than they expected.
Among independents, 54 percent think the war with Iran has gone about the way they expected it to go for the United States, 8 percent think the war has gone better than they expected, and 33 percent think the war has gone worse than they expected.
Among Democrats, 45 percent think the war with Iran has gone about the way they expected it to go for the United States, less than 1 percent think the war has gone better than they expected, and 49 percent think the war has gone worse than they expected.
U.S. MILITARY ACTION
Fifty-four percent of voters oppose the U.S. military action against Iran, while 39 percent support it, essentially unchanged from Quinnipiac University's March 9, 2026 poll.
Republicans (86 - 9 percent) support the U.S. military action against Iran, while Democrats (92 - 5 percent) and independents (64 - 28 percent) oppose it.
PRESIDENT TRUMP
Thirty-eight percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 56 percent disapprove, essentially unchanged from Quinnipiac University's March 9, 2026 poll.
When it comes to Trump's handling of the economy, 38 percent of voters approve, while 58 percent disapprove. Trump's approval for his handling of the economy matches the approval he received in Quinnipiac University's October 22, 2025 poll, and is the lowest approval on the economy he has ever received.
When it comes to Trump's handling of foreign policy, 36 percent of voters approve, while 59 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University's March 9 poll, 40 percent approved and 57 percent disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of the situation with Iran, 34 percent of voters approve, while 59 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University's March 9 poll, 38 percent approved and 57 percent disapproved.
DEMOCRATIC & REPUBLICAN PARTIES
Thirty-one percent of voters have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, while 56 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 8 percent haven't heard enough about it.
Among independents, 28 percent have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, while 52 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 13 percent haven't heard enough about it.
Thirty-five percent of voters have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, while 53 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 7 percent haven't heard enough about it.
Among independents, 23 percent have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, while 63 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 11 percent haven't heard enough about it.
CONTROL OF U.S. HOUSE
If the election were held today, 51 percent of voters would want to see the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives, while 40 percent would want to see the Republican Party win control of the House.
Among independents, 57 percent would want to see the Democratic Party win control, while 26 percent would want to see the Republican Party win control, with 17 percent not offering an opinion.
"While neither party hits it out of the park on popularity, the Indies clearly want the 'call to order' gavel handed over to the Democrats," added Malloy.
THE ECONOMY
Thirty-four percent of voters describe the state of the nation's economy these days as either excellent (5 percent) or good (29 percent), while 65 percent describe it as either not so good (32 percent) or poor (33 percent). This is largely unchanged from Quinnipiac University's December 17, 2025 poll.
FAMILY FINANCES
Sixty-six percent of voters describe their family's financial situation as holding steady, while 18 percent describe it as falling behind and 16 percent describe it as getting ahead.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS
Given a list of 11 personal financial concerns and asked which is the biggest one for them right now, healthcare costs (21 percent) top the list for voters, followed by food costs (13 percent), mortgage or rent payments (13 percent), gas prices (11 percent), and retirement savings (10 percent). No other listed concern reached double digits.
"Steady as she goes financially, say a majority of voters riding the economy rollercoaster. But while gas and grocery prices are obviously troubling, healthcare costs may be what's keeping them up at night the most," added Malloy.
Close to half of voters (46 percent) say the price of gasoline has been either a very serious problem (13 percent) or a somewhat serious problem (33 percent) for them and their family lately, while 53 percent say the price of gasoline has been either a not too serious problem (30 percent) or not a problem at all (23 percent).
UNEXPECTED BILL OF $1,000
When asked how difficult it would be to pay an unexpected bill of one thousand dollars right away, half of voters (51 percent) say it would be either very difficult (25 percent) or somewhat difficult (26 percent), while 48 percent say it would be either not so difficult (17 percent) or not difficult at all (31 percent).
1,191 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from March 19th - 23rd with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
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Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 89% - 25% 44% 32% Disapprove 56 6 97 68 49 62 DK/NA 6 4 3 7 7 5 -
Question 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve strongly 28% 69% - 16% 33% 24% Approve smwht 9 19 - 8 9 9 Disapprove smwht 5 2 3 9 7 3 Disapprove strongly 50 3 94 59 42 58 DK/NA 7 6 3 7 9 6 -
Question 2. Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 31% 5% 70% 28% 24% 38% Unfavorable 56 89 21 52 64 48 Hvn't hrd enough 8 5 6 13 8 9 REFUSED 5 1 2 7 4 6 -
Question 3. Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 35% 85% 1% 23% 39% 32% Unfavorable 53 6 91 63 49 57 Hvn't hrd enough 7 4 5 11 8 6 REFUSED 5 4 2 3 4 5 -
Question 4. If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Republican Party 40% 93% - 26% 46% 35% Democratic Party 51 5 99 57 43 58 DK/NA 9 3 1 17 11 7 -
Question 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - the economy?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 86% 1% 28% 44% 32% Disapprove 58 11 98 70 52 64 DK/NA 4 4 1 3 4 4 -
Question 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - foreign policy?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 36% 85% - 25% 42% 31% Disapprove 59 9 99 72 53 64 DK/NA 5 6 1 3 5 5 -
Question 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - the situation with Iran?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 34% 80% 2% 23% 40% 29% Disapprove 59 11 97 72 53 64 DK/NA 7 9 1 5 6 7 -
Question 8. Do you support or oppose the U.S. military action against Iran?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 39% 86% 5% 28% 46% 34% Oppose 54 9 92 64 49 59 DK/NA 6 4 2 7 5 7 -
Question 9. Has the war with Iran gone better than you expected for the United States, worse than you expected, or has the war gone about the way you expected it to for the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better than expected 13% 31% - 8% 17% 10% Worse than expected 28 6 49 33 23 32 The same as expected 52 58 45 54 54 50 DK/NA 7 5 5 6 6 7 -
Question 10. Do you think the war with Iran will make the world safer, less safe or will it make no difference?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Safer 35% 79% 2% 25% 42% 29% Less safe 42 8 74 49 34 49 No difference 20 11 22 22 21 19 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 3 4 -
Question 11. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 5% 9% - 4% 7% 3% Good 29 63 6 21 35 24 Not so good 32 24 39 36 32 32 Poor 33 3 55 38 25 40 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 -
Question 12. Which best describes your family's financial situation: getting ahead, falling behind, or holding steady?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Getting ahead 16% 25% 7% 13% 23% 9% Falling behind 18 8 24 20 17 19 Holding steady 66 66 69 65 60 72 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 1 -
Question 13. What is your biggest personal financial concern right now: food costs, healthcare costs, gas prices, mortgage or rent payments, energy bills, credit card payments, car payments, college tuition, childcare costs, retirement savings, or loss of a job?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Food costs 13% 11% 13% 15% 13% 13% Healthcare costs 21 24 25 14 16 25 Gas prices 11 9 12 11 12 9 Mortgage/Rent 13 7 12 17 15 11 Energy bills 7 10 4 7 9 6 Credit card payments 3 4 2 3 2 4 Car payments 1 3 - - 1 1 College tuition 6 6 7 7 6 7 Childcare costs 1 1 2 1 2 1 Retirement savings 10 8 13 10 11 10 Loss of a job 4 3 6 4 3 5 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 4 5 2 5 5 4 DK/NA 5 8 2 4 5 5 -
Question 14. How much of a problem has the price of gasoline been for you and your family lately; a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not a problem at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very serious problem 13% 7% 16% 15% 10% 16% Smwht serious 33 20 44 38 30 36 Not too serious 30 33 26 30 33 27 Not a problem at all 23 38 13 17 26 19 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 2 -
Question 15. How difficult would it be for you to pay an unexpected bill of one thousand dollars right away; very difficult, somewhat difficult, not so difficult, or not difficult at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very difficult 25% 16% 29% 30% 19% 29% Somewhat difficult 26 23 29 27 22 30 Not so difficult 17 19 17 15 20 14 Not difficult at all 31 41 25 28 38 25 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 1 2