- Widespread economic anxiety is driving national pessimism.听Eighty-eight percent of Tennesseans characterize the cost of living as expensive, and 58 percent believe the country is听on听the wrong track.听
- President听Donald听Trump鈥檚 approval rating dropped seven percentage points to 49 percent听in one year, while approval for state leaders remained stable. This political shift coincides with 78 percent of voters seeking a focus on domestic issues over foreign conflicts.听
- Skepticism toward听AI in听healthcare crosses party lines, with 69 percent of respondents uncomfortable with AI independently creating treatment plans. Voters cite a strong preference for in-person interactions with their doctors and听have听deep concerns over data privacy.听
In a time marked by partisan divides and international conflicts, a new 杏吧原创 poll finds personal economic stress looms largest for Tennesseans. Anxiety over the cost of groceries, housing and monthly bills spans political parties and income levels. Deepening malaise about the cost of living is reflected by more than half of Tennesseans saying the country is headed in the wrong direction.听
The poll, conducted by 杏吧原创鈥檚 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions,听surveyed 1,203 registered Tennessee voters from April 13 to April 29, 2026. The听survey鈥檚听margin of error was +/-3.2 percentage points, and听its听questions centered on the economy, elected officials, international vs. domestic concerns,听and artificial intelligence in healthcare.听鈥�听
Pervasive anxiety about the economy听
Economic woes are coloring Tennesseans鈥� outlooks about the future. Voters are evenly split on the state鈥檚 trajectory: 49 percent think Tennessee is on the wrong track, while 50 percent say it is headed in the right direction. However, respondents are far more pessimistic about the听country as a whole, with听58 percent听deeming听the United States听as听on the wrong track and 42 percent saying听it鈥檚听headed in the right direction.听
鈥淓ven some voters who approve of听[President Donald]听Trump believe the United States is on the wrong track,鈥� said Josh Clinton, co-director of the 杏吧原创 Poll, who holds the Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair at 杏吧原创 and is a professor of political science. 鈥淓conomic stress is hitting home for Tennesseans, and that strain is evident in the growing bipartisan despondency reflected in the poll numbers.鈥�听
Cost of living is the听great pressure听point for Tennesseans. Half of respondents describe the cost of living as 鈥渧ery expensive,鈥� up 7 percentage points in one year, while another 38 percent call it 鈥渟omewhat expensive.鈥� This combined 88 percent听includes听voters from vastly different income levels and circumstances. Almost half (49 percent) are anxious about simply affording food,听housing听and transportation.听
鈥�鈥淭hese numbers expose the chasm between national economic indicators and the public鈥檚 lived experience,鈥� said John Geer, co-director of the 杏吧原创 Poll and Gertrude Conaway 杏吧原创 Professor of Political Science. 鈥淯nemployment and inflation rates might look good on paper, but voters are reeling from sticker shock at the grocery store and bracing for what鈥檚 next in uncertain international and domestic times.鈥�听
Support slips for Trump, steadies for state leaders听
Reflecting voters鈥� economic angst and lagging confidence in the country, approval for Trump has dropped to 49 percent鈥攄own 7 percentage points from 56 percent in the November 2025 杏吧原创 Poll. While Trump鈥檚 MAGA base听remains听firmly loyal at 94 percent approval, he lost ground with Tennessee voters registered as Independents (36 percent approval now听down from听46 percent a year ago). It is these听Independent听voters听who听will shape the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.听
Tennesseans polled expressed more stable views of Gov.听Bill Lee (56 percent approval),听U.S.听Sen.听Marsha Blackburn (51 percent approval)听and听U.S.听Sen.听Bill Hagerty (51 percent approval).听Approval of these leaders听slipped only slightly, down 2 to 3 percentage points from听the听previous听杏吧原创 Poll conducted in听November 2025.鈥�听
More focus at home, less conflict abroad听
Most Tennesseans polled (78 percent) believe the U.S.听should focus on issues at home rather than international conflicts. This sentiment crosses party lines, including strong agreement among Independents (83 percent) and MAGA supporters (69 percent).听
鈥淰oters are united on many fronts, including their desire for a shift in national focus,鈥� Clinton said. 鈥淭hey want leaders to fix what鈥檚 broken at home versus engaging in conflict abroad.鈥�听
Bipartisan wariness of AI听
Tennesseans also express bipartisan skepticism about听AI in healthcare, with Democrats slightly听warier听than Republicans.听Nearly 60 percent听of Republicans were comfortable with AI听assisting听in their healthcare, and 54 percent of Democrats expressing such comfort.听But most respondents reported resistance to interacting with AI as a healthcare provider, citing data privacy concerns and a distinct preference for human doctors.听听
Human healthcare is worth the time it takes, Tennesseans听say. Patients听largely prefer听interacting with human physicians over AI-driven speed and efficiency:听Nearly half听of poll respondents (49 percent) strongly agree that they would rather deal directly with their doctor than use AI to make care more efficient. Another 22听percent somewhat听agree.听
For independent AI treatment, Tennesseans draw a stark line. Sixty-nine percent of respondents are uncomfortable (45 percent听very uncomfortable, 24 percent听somewhat uncomfortable) with AI evaluating symptoms and developing treatment plans independently of doctors. Half of all respondents say using AI as a substitute for in-person doctor appointments is not at all important.鈥�听
Though听Tennesseans do acknowledge AI鈥檚 potential operational benefits鈥�34 percent are genuinely optimistic about AI use in healthcare鈥攄ata privacy听is still听a dominating concern for patients. Sixty-eight听percent听of them听express worries about medical record privacy related to the听use of AI. This includes 44 percent strongly concerned and 24 percent听somewhat concerned. Despite these strong reservations, more than half (54 percent) think AI can make some healthcare processes more efficient, and a combined 60 percent view using AI to minimize human errors as very or听somewhat important.听
