Most Asian, Black and Latina women say government is failing them, new poll finds

Black, Latina and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women are losing confidence in government institutions even as they remain deeply engaged in the political process, according to a new Ipsos survey released ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Nearly seven in 10 respondents said their trust in federal institutions declined over the past year, while only 20% said the political system works for people like them. Even so, most respondents still viewed voting as one of the few meaningful ways to influence policy as rising costs and healthcare concerns continue to shape political priorities.

The survey, conducted Dec. 5-16 and commissioned by Intersections of Our Lives, examined political attitudes among women of color nationwide. The coalition behind the project includes the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda.

The poll captures a widening disconnect between civic participation and faith in political leadership. Sixty-four percent of respondents said traditional politicians and political parties do not care about “people like them,” and only 40% said their voices matter in the political process.

Half of respondents said they felt uncertain about the state of the country, while 49% described themselves as frustrated and 38% as exhausted. Just 14% said they felt hopeful. At the same time, 65% still said voting remains an important way to create change.

Economic anxiety emerged as the clearest throughline in the survey. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents identified affordability and cost of living as a top concern, placing it above every other issue measured in the report.

For many respondents, those pressures have already altered major life decisions. More than one-third said their financial situation worsened over the past year, and nearly two-thirds said they had delayed milestones such as buying a home, moving, receiving medical care or building savings because of economic conditions.

The uncertainty extended beyond household finances. Fifty-five percent said the “American dream” no longer feels attainable for people like them, reflecting broader skepticism about long-term economic mobility and institutional support.

Many respondents tied reproductive autonomy directly to economic mobility and long-term stability. Seventy percent said the ability to decide when to have children helps women succeed professionally, while 64% connected reproductive choice to educational attainment.

Abortion access and reproductive healthcare also emerged as economic concerns rather than strictly ideological ones. Sixty-two percent said reproductive autonomy contributes to financial stability, and many respondents gave the government poor marks on healthcare access and the affordability of raising children.

Earlier polling from Intersections of Our Lives identified rising costs, healthcare access and abortion rights among the top concerns for women of color voters during the 2024 election cycle. The latest survey indicates those priorities remain closely tied to how Black, Latina and AAPI women assess political institutions ahead of the 2026 midterms.