USHBC launches midterm polling map tracking business-owner concerns

The United States Hispanic Business Council unveiled an interactive 2026 Midterm Polling Map based on 6,008 business owners in 28 states, with deeper results in six battleground states. The findings show affordability, energy costs and inflation-related pressure shaping how owners view the economy and the election.

Why it matters: - The USHBC map gives a closer look at how business owners are weighing the economy and the midterm elections in six states that could matter in November. - The survey points to persistent cost pressure on small businesses, which can affect hiring, investment and pricing decisions. - The findings also show a large share of owners still undecided or not aligned with either major party.

What happened: - The United States Hispanic Business Council launched its 2026 Midterm Polling Map, an interactive webpage with national and state-level results ahead of the November elections. - The platform uses responses collected from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12, 2026, from 6,008 business owners across 28 states. - Detailed results are available for California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Florida and New York. - Visitors can review voting preferences, business conditions, economic pressures and the issues respondents say matter most at the ballot box. - Explore the 2026 Midterm Polling Map

The details: - Among respondents, 30.7% identified as Independent, 35.5% as Democrat and 33.8% as Republican. - On the national generic U.S. House ballot, 43.4% favored a Democrat, 41.6% favored a Republican and 15% were undecided. - 77.2% said fuel and energy prices negatively affected their businesses. - 66.8% reported a negative impact from tariffs. - 60.6% said immigration enforcement affected their workforce significantly or somewhat. - 52.7% said business conditions are worse than a year ago. - 62% raised prices over the past 12 months. - 49.8% cut back hiring or left positions unfilled. - 47.9% delayed an investment or expansion. - Affordability and energy costs ranked as a top-three issue for 46.9% of respondents. - Immigration followed at 28.7%, health care at 26.2% and housing at 23.9%. - The six state popups all showed affordability and energy costs as the leading issue in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Florida and New York. - The state pages also show sample sizes, candidate preferences, undecided shares and the leading issues.

Between the lines: - The polling suggests business owners are feeling economic strain in ways that go beyond campaign messaging. - A nearly even split between Democratic and Republican preferences, plus a sizable Independent bloc, leaves both parties competing for a persuadable business audience. - The state-by-state results suggest economic concerns are broadly shared, even where candidate preferences differ. - The survey notes that the results reflect participating business owners and should not be read as a forecast of all U.S. voters.

What's next: - With the midterms just over two weeks away, candidates will likely use the map to see which business concerns need clearer answers. - The USHBC said the platform is meant to keep business owners central to the election conversation. - The organization says the map highlights where candidates still need to earn confidence from business owners.

The bottom line: - The USHBC’s polling map shows a business electorate focused on costs, uncertain on party lines and still looking for specific economic answers before Election Day.