Radio, Podcasts Reach Voters Focused On Cost Of Living.

Audacy says a new survey conducted with YouGov found inflation and the rising cost of living are dominating the concerns of U.S. voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with commuters feeling the greatest financial strain.

In a new Insights piece, the company argues those trends also strengthen the role of radio and podcasts, which reach large audiences during daily commutes and connect campaigns with highly engaged voters.

The study of 1,000 registered voters found that 54% identify the cost of living as the most important issue influencing their vote, making it the leading election concern by a four-to-one margin over the next highest issue. Among commuters, that figure rises to 59%, while 73% of commuters who own homes and have children say the economy is their top voting issue.

Audacy says commuters face greater financial pressure because they must absorb transportation costs, including fuel, tolls, parking, vehicle maintenance and insurance, in addition to rising housing, grocery and utility expenses.

“A wall of economic resentment is sweeping the country as the majority of Americans categorize the U.S. economy in one word: bad,” Audacy says. “Three-quarters of the population feel poorer than they did a year ago, while 70% report that relentless gas prices have forced a direct downgrade in their lifestyle. Rather than seeing light at the end of the tunnel, voters overwhelmingly expect conditions to decay further.”

The survey found 80% of commuters who rank the economy as their top election issue say their money does not stretch as far as it did a year ago vs. 73% of registered voters overall.

Audacy also says commuting has rebounded to near post-pandemic highs. Among employed Americans, 78% commute to work at least two days a week, 73% travel three or more days weekly, and 45% commute all five weekdays. The company cites Placer.ai data showing office attendance reached a post-pandemic high in June and MRI/Simmons estimates that 66 million Americans commute to work in 2026.

The report highlights radio and podcasts as key platforms for reaching those commuters. Audacy says nearly 90% of workers commute by car, where AM/FM radio and podcasts account for most ad-supported listening. It also says radio and podcast audiences are more likely than registered voters overall to rank the economy as their top election issue, cite the cost of living as the issue candidates should address, and say they are dissatisfied with “politics as usual.”

“It’s easy to look at elections through the lens of data, but the story of 2026 is really being written on the highway,” says Haley Tear-Lombardo, Audacy’s VP of Government and Political Partnerships. “We’re seeing a shift in how voters consume political information. The daily commute is no longer just travel time; it’s one of the most important moments for reaching voters. Audio fits seamlessly into that routine, giving campaigns a trusted, uncluttered environment to speak to the economic concerns driving voter motivation this year — at a moment when people are most likely to listen.”

Audacy says radio and podcast listeners are also more likely to vote than the general electorate. Citing Nielsen Scarborough, the company says radio reaches more self-described habitual voters in local and statewide elections than linear television or major streaming platforms.

“Audio delivers a double advantage that few other media can match,” Audacy says. “First, radio and podcasts dominate the daily commute, allowing campaigns to reach millions of voters during one of the most consistent and attentive moments of their day. Second, radio and podcast listeners are even more likely than voters overall to rank the economy as their top election issue, and are more likely to turn out and vote.”