A May 2026 poll by Impact Research found that 32% of U.S. registered voters belong to a group described as the “disillusioned,” defined by their belief that the system is rigged in favor of corporations and the wealthy and that federal policies actively hurt the middle class. The survey of 1,000 registered voters also found this group believes government involvement tends to make economic conditions worse.
Among the disillusioned, 85% report being financially worried—more than any other voter segment. Nearly half say their quality of life has declined over the past two years. Financial strain has led 27% to dip into retirement savings for everyday expenses, and 42% have stopped saving altogether. Many have made deeper sacrifices, including cutting transportation costs, using credit for groceries, taking gig work, and skipping bill payments.
The disillusioned span all geographic areas—urban, suburban, and rural—in proportions mirroring the broader electorate. They are 68% White, nearly evenly split by gender, and represent every age cohort. Sixty-four percent earn under $75,000 annually, 70% lack a college degree, and 35% identify as working class, slightly above the national average of 33%.
Politically, 43% of the disillusioned identify as Democrats, 29% as independents, and 25% as Republicans. Their economic views cut across traditional party lines. According to a related Roosevelt poll, voters across all groups believe federal policies help the wealthy (+60 net), billionaires (+57), and corporations (+54), while harming low-income people (–26), young people (–20), and the middle class (–18).
Elizabeth Wilkins, CEO and President of Roosevelt Institute, said, “I think this moment that we’re in right now is really less of a left-right moment than a bottom-top moment.” She added, “That is the dissolution of the American Dream — that you contribute and you’re taken care of in return.” Wilkins said, “The disillusionment is not a full walking away. It means people have expectations, and those expectations haven’t been met in the past, but we have an opportunity to meet them in the future.” She said government-issued stimulus checks and a proactive health care system were a big part of the prosperity Americans briefly experienced during the post-WWII boom and again during the COVID period. Wilkins said, “We did have this moment where we brought part of it back, and then we disappeared it again.” She said the disappearance is “giving people overall a sense of insecurity and uncertainty.”
Economic historian Marc Levinson said, “We’re certainly not getting back to the age where people could feel that their living standards were rising day to day. It’s not like that at all.” He added, “The closest thing we’ve had to it was actually immediately post-COVID. And that lasted for about a year. And now we’re back to, well, if you’re good, maybe we’ll give you a little wage increase next year. That’s about it.” Levinson also said, “I think the part of the thesis that really bothered people of all political persuasions is that there’s not some lever the government can pull to fix all this.”