Nearly half of rural voters say the economy has worsened since Donald Trump returned to office, according to an AP-KFF poll, sounding an alarm for Republicans ahead of the midterms.

Groceries, petrol and healthcare emerged as the top sources of financial pain, with rural voters — a core GOP constituency — expressing frustration over the cost of living.

Senate Republicans have launched a last-ditch affordability push, including the Ratepayer Protection Act aimed at curbing electricity rate hikes linked to data centres.

The findings suggest the affordability issue could cut across party lines in November, with Democrats also campaigning hard on cost-of-living concerns. Strategists in both parties say the economy remains the decisive battleground of the midterms. The White House has pointed to cooling inflation data and wage growth as evidence its policies are working, but the poll suggests those gains have not reached many rural households. With weeks left until the midterms, both parties are expected to sharpen their cost-of-living pitches.