President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union speech on Tuesday, calling for unity and raising issues like infrastructure. What other issues are priorities for Americans for the coming year?
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 73% of Americans say terrorism is a “top priority for Trump and Congress.” Education is close behind, with 72% of Americans saying it is a top priority. The economy rounds out the top three issues, with 71% of Americans saying it is a top priority. Health care costs (68%), Social Security (67%), Medicare (66%), the environment (62%), and jobs (62%) are the next tranche of Americans’ priorities. Issues that have made headlines as of late rank towards the bottom. Only 47% of Americans say immigration is a top priority and just 38% of Americans want to prioritize global trade.
Of the top three issues (terrorism, education, economy), Republicans have done well to prioritize handling terrorism and the economy over the past year. That said, they can be in a position to lead on education – especially Republicans running for state-level offices. By doing so they will not only satisfy reliable Republicans, but attract swing voters like Independents, women, and those living in suburban areas as well.
