With tariffs and gutted federal funding, Michiganders’ confidence in the economy is plummeting 

LANSING - In case you missed it, new polling is showing that Michiganders are decidedly not happy about the direction that Trump and Republicans at every level are taking the economy. Of registered voters, 54% believe that Trump’s tariffs will be bad for Michigan’s economy — even as Reps. John James, Tom Barrett, and Bill Huizenga try to claim otherwise. 

In just a few months under the Trump administration, fewer and fewer Michiganders feel that our economy is growing and improving. During his campaign, Trump loved to promise that costs and inflation would go down on day one; unfortunately, Trump and Republicans have instead decided to raise costs and line billionaires’ pockets, choosing the 1% over the 99%. 

Michiganders are saying it loud and clear: they do not like where Trump and his Republican cronies are dragging our country. It’s just too bad Michigan Republicans are refusing to listen. 

Read more about how Michiganders are feeling below: 

Detroit News: Michigan voters pessimistic about tariffs, economy, new poll finds

• Most registered voters in Michigan said tariffs imposed by Republican President Donald Trump on products manufactured outside the United States will be bad for the state and have pessimistic views about the current economy, according to poll results released Tuesday by the Detroit Regional Chamber…
• The survey also happened before economists from the University of Michigan predicted on May 16 that increased tariffs would reduce Michigan’s employment growth by 13,000 jobs over the next five years.

Detroit Free Press: Michigan voters deeply divided along party lines on the economy under Trump

• Since January 2025, the share of voters who say the economy is growing has declined from 42% to 34%, comparing Detroit Regional Chamber polling from the start of the year to the latest survey…
• While the share of strong Republican voters predicting a recession in the next year has fallen, the share of Democratic and independent voters fearing one has increased since the start of the year, according to the poll which shows a similar partisan pattern on inflation.

Michigan Advance: Michigan voters deeply divided along party lines on the economy under Trump

• While last year’s assessment saw a more negative perception of the economy from Republicans and a more positive assessment from Democrats and independents, the 2025 assessment saw the opposite. 
• “Democrats have gone from 62% in January, thinking the economy is growing to now 17%. Independents have dropped from 35 to 25[%] but Republican base voters have jumped from 22 to 64[%] that think the economy is growing,” Czuba said.