Nearly 9 in 10 registered LGBTQ+ voters, who make up 12% of the U.S. adult population, say they definitely plan to vote; civil rights and cost of living top voting priorities
WASHINGTON — Four weeks out from Election Day, new data from the 2026 Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey analyzed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation finds an LGBTQ+ electorate highly motivated heading into the midterm elections, with nearly nine in ten (87%) registered voters saying they definitely plan to vote. Civil rights and equal protections overwhelmingly rank as the leading issue shaping LGBTQ+ voters’ decisions at the ballot box, while economic pressures are also weighing heavily on the community. More than half of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed say they are struggling or just getting by financially, and nearly half say they are worse off financially than they were two years ago. Read the full findings here.
Earlier this year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released updated population estimates showing that a record-high 12% of U.S. adults – roughly 25.6 million people – identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender diverse – meaning LGBTQ+ voters could play a defining role in the results of the midterms.
“LGBTQ+ voters are paying attention, they understand what is at stake, and they are prepared to make their voices heard,” said HRC Foundation Sr. Director of Research and Education Tari Hanneman. “What jumps out from this data is how closely concerns about our fundamental freedoms are intertwined with the economic pressures people are experiencing in their everyday lives. LGBTQ+ people are worried about their jobs, their finances, and making ends meet, while also confronting very real fears that rights and protections they rely on could be taken away.”
The findings show civil rights remain at the center of LGBTQ+ voters’ priorities, with nearly three-quarters (73.7%) selecting civil rights and equal protections for LGBTQ+ people as one of the three issues most important in shaping their vote. Economic stability, inflation and the cost of living ranked second at 35.9%, followed by government accountability and corruption (32.5%), the functioning of democracy and elections (26.9%), and abortion and reproductive rights (26.8%). Those concerns come as respondents report widespread anxiety about the future of LGBTQ+ protections, including more than nine in ten who are worried that the Supreme Court could undermine federal workplace discrimination protections and more than eight in ten who are worried about marriage recognition.
Key Data Points:
- 87% of registered LGBTQ+ voters say they definitely will vote in the 2026 midterms, while another 7.5% say they probably will.
- 73.7% of LGBTQ+ voters select civil rights and equal protections for LGBTQ+ people as one of the three issues most important in shaping their vote
- Some priorities differ by generation: LGBTQ+ adults ages 18–34 are more likely than those 65 and older to prioritize civil rights and reproductive rights, while economic stability and cost of living are particularly prominent among adults ages 55–64.
- 51.2% of LGBTQ+ voters say they are either finding it difficult to get by or are just getting by financially, while 47.2% say they are financially worse off than two years ago.
- 92% of LGBTQ+ voters are concerned that the Supreme Court could undermine federal workplace discrimination protections, and 85% are worried they could undermine marriage equality.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 4 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action—working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people. More at hrc.org
