Overview
Center Forward’s mission is to cultivate meaningful conversations across the spectrum among elected officials representing both political parties. Even in the face of extreme political polarization, we believe there are opportunities for Republicans and Democrats to come together to address the significant challenges facing our country and affect positive change for all Americans. Many elected leaders in Congress are open to bipartisan dialogue and actively working to find ways to work together to enact smart, sustainable policies that stand the test of time. This is why we decided to ask the voters who sent these leaders to Congress about their feelings about engaging in political discourse and the trajectory of the country.
For this fifth journal, voters across the political spectrum expressed growing disappointment and frustration with the state of the country, particularly in how the economy is being handled, many still believe the American project has more to offer and that the country must find common ground to move forward.
Key Findings
Frustration with today’s politics makes it harder to celebrate the history that got us here, with some voters’ pride in the anniversary dulled by a broader pessimism about today’s political climate.
Voters across the political spectrum are neither happy with nor proud of the current state of the country and are alarmed by the ongoing affordability crisis.
What frustrates voters in 2026 echoes what frustrated the Founding Fathers in 1776: government overreach, excessive taxation, an unchecked executive, and threats to individual rights.
Voters believe that in the country’s history, gains in equality and power have come at the loss of community unity and institutional trust.
Voters across the political spectrum are neither happy with nor proud of the current state of the country and are alarmed by the ongoing affordability crisis. Trump voters said they were “disappointed” and “frustrated” with the President’s handling of the economy, and voters across the political spectrum are neither happy nor proud of the current state of the country and are alarmed by the ongoing affordability crisis.
Voters view state governments more favorably than the federal government and believe states offer a more viable arena for building unity than Congress.
Explore Past Journals
September 2025: Finding Common Ground
Americans remain frustrated by partisanship, are anxious about the economy, and eager for cooperation that delivers results.
March 2025: The 2024 Election
The story of the 2024 election is not a simple tale of winners and losers but a complex narrative of anxiety and hope, division and unity, and it’s a story that continues to unfold.