IOWA — Undecided voters in Iowa and Georgia expressed growing economic anxiety and disapproval of Donald Trump’s economic focus during focus groups conducted on August 20, 2026. The sessions were organized by Syracuse University, Engagious, and Sago to gauge sentiment among swing-state electorates.

The research included a dozen participants whose political backgrounds reflected a mix of affiliations. The focus groups included six independents, five Republicans, and one Democrat. Nine of the 12 focus group participants voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, while three of the 12 focus group participants voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Economic concerns dominated the discussions held by the researchers. Nine of the 12 focus group participants reported feeling more anxious about the economy than they did when Donald Trump returned to office. This sentiment persisted despite the administration's tenure, with eight of the 12 focus group participants stating that Donald Trump is not focused enough on the economy.

Disapproval ratings within the small sample group mirrored these economic worries. Eight of the 12 undecided voters in the focus groups disapproved of Donald Trump’s job performance during his second term. The broader fiscal landscape includes a national debt that exceeds $40 trillion, according to U.S. Department of the Treasury debt data.

Political preferences in Iowa showed a specific trend among the local panelists. Four of the five Iowa focus group panelists said they would support Democrat Rob Sand in the gubernatorial election. These findings provide a snapshot of voter attitudes in two key states during the current political cycle.