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Georgia Swing Voters Express Concern Over Iran Conflict and Economy in Focus Groups

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Focus Group Reveals Growing Anxiety Among Swing Voters Over Iran Conflict and Economy

"Very anxious, some angry, upset when they hear about the war... not happy that we are there." — Rich Thau, Engagious president

Methodology

The focus groups were organized by the messaging and market research firms Engagious and Sago as part of the Swing Voter Project. NPR observed the sessions. Focus groups are not statistically significant but provide qualitative insight into voter perspectives. Participants agreed to be identified by first names and last initials only.

The Participants

Two online focus groups conducted Tuesday night included 13 Georgia voters who supported Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024. The breakdown:

  • 7 independents
  • 5 Republicans
  • 1 Democrat

None of the 13 participants described the military action in Iran as going well. Participants used words including "afraid," "angry," "concerned," "sad," and "despair" to describe their feelings about the conflict.

Views on the Iran Conflict

Specific Participant Comments

Nick H., a 28-year-old independent voter, stated that Trump "completely underestimated the opponent" and expressed concern about Iran bombing U.S. military bases and taking control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Bryan M., a 24-year-old independent voter, said he was concerned about the loss of expensive U.S. military equipment.

Views on Presidential Performance and Priorities

Most participants said they disapprove of Trump's performance in his second term so far. Several cited a perceived gap between their priorities and the president's priorities.

"It seems like he's prioritizing taking over as much of the world as possible." — Corey W., 55-year-old independent voter

Howard R., a 31-year-old independent voter, said the president was focused on enriching himself, referencing "crypto scams."

Xaveria T., a 44-year-old Republican voter, said Trump was focused on "his own personal gain" instead of economic needs.

Three participants approved of Trump's job performance, citing immigration enforcement as an example.

Rich Thau noted a "misalignment between the president's priorities" and those of almost all the voters, stating they are frustrated the president "isn't paying attention to what matters most to them."

Economic Concerns

Twelve of the 13 respondents said they are more anxious about the economy now than before Trump took office again, primarily citing rising prices.

Specific Participant Comments

"Everything is higher now. It's not going down like he said. Cost of living of everything — food, oil, housing, health care, you name it." — Dawn H., 46-year-old Republican voter

Joe J., a 56-year-old independent voter, said Trump's failure on the economy is "exactly the opposite of what he promised," citing cuts to health insurance subsidies and spending on projects such as a "new ballroom."

Bryan M. expressed fear that the economy will worsen as the war continues, with rising oil and food prices.

Additional Findings

Views on Israel

When asked about Israel's government:

  • 1 participant viewed it positively
  • 4 viewed it negatively
  • The rest had neutral positions

Voting Intentions

Nine of the 13 participants said they are "very likely" to vote in the November midterm elections. Most were undecided on which party to support. Two voters said they plan to vote for Democrats to send a message to Trump. None said they plan to vote for Republicans in support of the president.

Local Issues

A majority of participants expressed concern about data centers being built in their communities, citing water and energy resource usage.

Context

The military action in Iran is broadly unpopular with the American public, according to polling data.