Roosevelt Institute poll finds about a third of US voters feel the system is rigged
A new Roosevelt Institute poll finds about 32% of US voters feel the system is rigged for corporations and the wealthy and that government makes things worse. The group sees federal policy as helping billionaires while hurting the middle class. Source: Roosevelt Institute.
A new poll from the Roosevelt Institute, conducted by Impact Research in May 2026 among 1,000 registered voters, identifies a large group it calls the disillusioned. According to the institute and reporting by Fortune, this cohort makes up about 32% of American voters. The disillusioned share three convictions: that the economic system is rigged in favor of corporations and the wealthy, that government involvement tends to make things worse, and that federal policies actively harm the middle class. The poll asked voters whether federal policy helps or hurts different groups. On a net basis, respondents said policy helps wealthy people, billionaires and corporations, while hurting the middle class, low-income people and the young. Among the disillusioned, a large majority report being financially worried, and nearly half say their quality of life has gotten worse over the past two years. Despite their distrust of government, most in this group back the Roosevelt Institute policy platform of healthcare affordability, living wages, expanded retirement security, housing investment and worker protections. Source: Roosevelt Institute, Fortune.