At the Great American State Fair, Americans expressed cautious optimism about jobs and growth, but many told Fox News Digital values and leadership matter more than economic conditions at the ballot box.
As Americans gather in the nation's capital to celebrate the Fourth of July and kick off the nation's 250th anniversary festivities, Fox News Digital asked attendees at the Great American Fair on the National Mall whether the economy will influence how they vote in November.
While most respondents gave the U.S. economy a passing grade — most commonly a "B" — many said their ballots won't hinge on inflation, jobs or economic growth alone. Instead, they pointed to values, leadership and party affiliation as the factors that will ultimately decide their vote.
The responses offer a snapshot of how some voters are weighing one of the nation's top political issues ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Jay Miller from Louisiana told Fox News Digital that the U.S. economy does not impact his vote in November. (Fox News Digital)
Although respondents expressed cautious optimism about the economy's direction, several said improving conditions would not be enough to change their political preferences, underscoring the role that broader ideological and cultural issues continue to play in shaping voter decisions.
"I would probably give the economy, compared to what it was, I would give it a B for sure," Jay Miller of Lafayette, Louisiana, told Fox News Digital. "I think we are on the verge of an economic boom like we've never seen in our nation. And I'm glad that I'm living at this point and this time to witness it firsthand."
Miller said he believes lawmakers should work more closely with President Donald Trump to advance the administration's agenda, arguing that doing so would help unlock further economic growth.
Donna Festinger from Greenfield, Massachusetts, als
