CHARLOTTE — North Carolina voters rate the economy and health care as the leading issues in this year’s election, according to a poll conducted as in-person early voting was set to begin Thursday, Oct. 15. The survey, conducted Oct. 7-11 by SurveyUSA in partnership with WSOC and WRAL, asked likely November voters to score 11 issues from 1 to 10. The economy averaged 8.8, followed by health care at 8.6. Crime and public safety, national security and international conflicts, and defending democracy each scored 7.9. The results come as candidates Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley campaign for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat with competing messages about household finances. Cooper has held events under the banner “Make Stuff Cost Less,” while Whatley’s events have been called “Make More Keep More.” More than half of respondents, 51%, said their lives and financial standing have worsened since the 2024 election. Among that group, 52% blamed President Donald Trump most. Another 27% said Trump, congressional leaders from both parties and local politicians shared responsibility, while 9% blamed Democrats in Congress. Of the 17% who said their circumstances had improved, 28% credited Trump most, 19% credited Republicans in Congress and 18% Democrats in Congress. Fifteen percent said all of those groups contributed, and 11% credited North Carolina’s local politicians. Political science professor Chris Cooper said household costs help explain why the economy is driving voters’ attention. “People don’t feel like they can afford to live the lifestyle that they deserve to live,” Cooper said, adding that gas prices are one part of the concern. On the economy, voters supporting Cooper gave the issue an average importance score of 9.0, compared with 8.6 among Whatley supporters. Health care also rated higher among Cooper supporters, 8.8 to 8.2. The poll found 44% of respondents were optimistic about their family’s economic outlook over the next year, while 37% were pessimistic. Immigration and abortion ranked lowest among the 11 issues as motivations to vote, though immigration mattered more to Whatley supporters and abortion more to Cooper supporters. Education scored 7.7, mental health or addiction 7.5, the environment 7.1, gun rights or control 7.0, immigration or border control 6.9, and abortion 6.8. The survey results describe voters’ stated priorities; they do not determine how those concerns will shape turnout or election outcomes.