Voters in midterm elections identify a culprit for rising cost of living: Trump’s tariffs

Voters in competitive districts from Virginia to Michigan are citing President Trump's tariffs as a driver of rising costs, with polling and advocacy groups reporting the issue has unusual traction in this year's midterms. A Virginia voter interviewed by States Newsroom described skipping a family vacation while naming tariffs as one culprit behind higher prices.

Economists at the Peterson Institute reviewed 13 academic papers and estimated tariffs add roughly $1,000-plus per year in consumer costs, with the Tax Foundation separately pegging the hit at $820 per household in 2026. Virginia businesses alone have paid $6.2 billion in tariffs since January 2025, though the state ranks only 18th nationally in exposure.

Trump's tariff policy has changed more than 50 times since January 2025 according to the Tax Foundation, and his early 'reciprocal' tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court in February, prompting him to rely on three other statutes instead. His campaign promise that foreign countries would bear the cost has been consistently contradicted by economists, who find the tax is passed through to American consumers and businesses instead.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.