A recent statewide survey by Vanderbilt University reveals growing financial stress among Tennessee residents, cutting across political affiliations. While 61 percent view the state’s economy favorably—rating it as “very” or “fairly good”—only 41 percent extend the same assessment to the national economy. This divergence underscores a broader unease about personal finances despite relative confidence in local economic conditions.
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s administration, concerns over covering unexpected medical costs, routine household expenses, and long-term savings have surged significantly. Inflation and cost-of-living pressures are now central issues for voters, including those who identify with the MAGA movement. John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, noted that rising economic anxiety is influencing electoral behavior, with increased openness to supporting Democratic candidates in recent elections.
The poll, conducted from November 12–19, 2025, surveyed 1,046 registered voters in Tennessee and carries a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points. It found that 87 percent consider daily living expenses to be “very” or “somewhat” high, amplifying worries about unforeseen financial shocks such as car repairs or health emergencies. About two-thirds (67 percent) express concern over emergency preparedness, marking a 13-point increase since December 2024.
More than half (51 percent) find it challenging to manage monthly expenditures on essentials like housing, food, and transportation. Looking ahead, 70 percent are moderately or highly anxious about saving adequately for retirement or education, overtaking other policy areas like immigration or school reform in priority.
Josh Clinton, the other co-director of the poll, emphasized that financial stability has become the dominant concern shaping public expectations of government. “People are focused on affordability—health care, inflation, and basic budgeting,” he said. “While some are thriving, many feel squeezed, and the data reflects that reality.”
On education, Tennesseans broadly agree on the importance of foundational disciplines. Mathematics and science are seen as “very important” by 84 percent, critical thinking by 81 percent, and history and civics by 74 percent. Career and technical training holds similar weight. In contrast, computer science, data analytics, and AI are considered essential by 66 percent, while foreign languages rank lower at 27 percent. There is strong bipartisan consensus that high schools should equally prepare students for college and direct workforce entry, with 83 percent endorsing this balanced approach.
Public health beliefs also show partisan divides, particularly regarding autism. Although 41 percent know someone requiring regular support due to autism, views diverge sharply on its causes. Twenty-one percent believe childhood vaccines may cause autism, with agreement higher among Republicans (30 percent) than Democrats (5 percent). Similarly, 16 percent link prenatal Tylenol use to autism, a view held by 21 percent of Republicans versus 4 percent of Democrats.
Only 38 percent strongly reject the vaccine-autism link, while 32 percent remain neutral. On Tylenol, 38 percent strongly disagree with the claim, and 37 percent are unsure. Clinton observed that medical recommendations, including childhood immunizations, are increasingly politicized: 90 percent of Democrats support required vaccines, compared to just 39 percent of Republicans. When it comes to personal vaccine uptake, 80 percent of Democrats would accept one, versus 28 percent of Republicans.
Despite deepening ideological gaps on health matters, economic hardship remains a unifying concern. As Geer noted, even among Trump supporters, financial strain is reshaping political attitudes.
— news from Vanderbilt University
— News Original —
Vanderbilt Poll: Tennesseans’ economic anxiety surges, transcends party lines
Voters still have confidence in Tennessee’s economic conditions, viewing them as distinct from the national situation. Sixty-one percent deem the state’s economy as “very” or “fairly good,” while just 41 percent rate the U.S. economy as “fairly” or “very” good.
Concern about the ability to pay for medical emergencies, cover regular bills and save for retirement or education has increased by double digits since President Donald Trump was elected.
Partisan views about vaccines and autism indicate a larger split in how different groups consume news and health care advice.
Tennesseans overwhelmingly prioritize critical thinking, math and science over newer trends like AI and data science for high school students. These assessments are similar regardless of partisan stripe.
Tennesseans across the political spectrum are worried about the cost of living. In its latest statewide poll, Vanderbilt University found that economic anxiety has increased since President Donald Trump took office in January. That anxiety runs the gamut from paying for unexpected expenses, such as a medical emergency or car repair, to covering basic monthly bills and saving for the future.
“Inflation is a serious concern for Tennesseans across the state, even among MAGA Republicans,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, senior advisor to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, professor of political science and holder of a Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair. “While Trump continues to have support in the state, the worries about the cost of living are growing. And as we saw in the recent special election in the 7th congressional district, people are expressing their concerns by being much more willing to vote for a Democrat than just a year ago.”
The poll also assessed general sentiment about whether Tennessee and the country are on the right track. Fifty-three percent of respondents feel things in Tennessee are going in the right direction, while 46 percent believe the United States is moving in the right direction. Additional poll questions focused on public health issues, educational priorities, approval of state and federal officials, and more.
The poll was conducted in English, Nov. 12–19, 2025, among 1,046 registered Tennessee voters age 18 and older. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points.
Rising Economic Anxiety
While the public is optimistic about the state’s direction, sentiment about their personal financial outlook is far less positive. Eighty-seven percent call their daily cost of living “very” or “somewhat” expensive, which heightens their fears around unexpected expenses.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents are worried about having enough money to pay for emergencies like medical care or car repairs—a 13 percentage point increase since December 2024. Even the ability to pay for typical monthly bills for housing, food and transportation are “very” or “moderately” concerning for 51 percent of Tennesseans.
Those fears escalate when it comes to saving for the future. Seventy percent of respondents are “very” or “moderately” worried about having enough savings for things like retirement or education. This displaced issues like education and immigration as their top priority.
“People appear to feel very strongly about a variety of issues right now, but when they are asked about what the government should prioritize, their responses are financially driven—the economy, health care and inflation. Plain and simple, people are worried about paying their bills, perhaps more than anything else,” said Josh Clinton, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll, holder of the Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair at Vanderbilt and professor of political science. “Certainly, there is a portion of the population that is thriving, but for the average person trying to make their way in the world, it’s rough, and we see that in the data.”
Public Health and Partisanship
The conversation around autism has escalated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serving as secretary of health and human services. With three-quarters of respondents saying they know someone with autism, it is an important issue for many families. In fact, highlighting the impact that autism has on Tennesseans, 41 percent of those knowing someone with autism report that the person requires regular or daily support, and only 18 believe that the person can live independently on their own. Unlike many social issues, this concern cuts across party lines.
The influence of partisanship emerges, however, when people are asked about the possible causes of autism—an issue that continues to receive attention at the national level. Overall, 21 percent agree or somewhat agree that childhood vaccines can cause autism, and 16 percent agree or strongly agree that mothers taking Tylenol while pregnant can cause autism.
Overall, 38 percent strongly disagree with the notion that vaccines cause autism, and 32 percent neither agree nor disagree. Thirty-eight percent strongly disagree that mothers taking Tylenol while pregnant can cause autism, while 37 percent neither agree nor disagree.
“We’re seeing significant partisan differences in response, reflecting the rhetoric out of the Trump administration,” Geer said. “Robert Kennedy Jr. and others are casting doubt on the value of vaccines and contending that pregnant women taking Tylenol can lead to autism in their babies. These claims are recasting how many Americans think about these public health issues.”
While only 21 percent strongly or somewhat agree that childhood vaccinations can cause autism, five percent of Democrats, 22 percent of Independents and 30 percent of Republicans believe it is the cause. Similarly, only 16 percent strongly or somewhat agree that mothers taking Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism, though only four percent of Democrats, 17 percent of Independents and 21 percent of Republicans agree.
“These results certainly highlight important issues related to those caring for those affected by autism in Tennessee, but the opinions also highlight differences of opinion about public health more generally. The willingness, for example, to take medically recommended childhood vaccines in general is becoming increasingly political,” Clinton added. “Fifty-six percent of registered voters overall in Tennessee support children getting a medically recommended vaccine, but there is a 50 percentage point difference in the views of Democrats and Republicans on this issue. Ninety percent of Democrats, but only 39 percent of Republicans would agree.”
There are even sharper partisan differences among the public when asked about getting vaccines themselves. Eighty percent of Democrats would take a recommended vaccine, while only 41 percent of Independents and 28 percent of Republicans would.