Rising Food Prices in Michigan Push Trump Voters to Food Banks, Testing GOP Support

A growing surge in food prices is casting a shadow over Michigan’s economic and social conditions, driving increasing numbers of residents to line up at local food banks in search of basic groceries. The trend has raised concerns among Republican officials about the durability of former President Donald Trump’s support base in the state.

A Reuters report captured the situation vividly: roughly 30 cars lined up outside a former fire station that had been converted into a food distribution center in the rural, Trump-supporting town of Capac, Michigan. Residents waited for the doors to open to receive milk, vegetables, fruit, and other essentials whose prices continue to rise—nearly a year after Trump returned to the presidency.

Inside the facility, volunteers packed food items that have either surged sharply in price or remained stubbornly expensive throughout the year.

A Campaign Promise Under Pressure

Among those waiting in line was 35-year-old Taylor Ludwig, a mother of three, who arrived well before the food pantry opened at 10 a.m. She said she never expected to need food assistance after voting for Trump last year, when he campaigned on promises to lower prices.

Ludwig said she had hoped Trump would make greater progress in fighting inflation after nearly a year in office. Instead, the cost of everyday staples—such as cereal, fruits, and vegetables—remains painfully high.

Although Ludwig places much of the blame for inflation on former Democratic President Joe Biden, she warned that Republicans could lose her vote in the November congressional elections if Trump fails to move faster on fulfilling his 2024 campaign pledge to reduce living costs.

Trump swept rural areas of Michigan with promises of economic relief, but persistent inflation is now testing both that promise and the patience of voters who helped return him to power. Their frustration could extend beyond Ludwig’s community, potentially threatening Republican prospects in the midterm elections while giving Democrats an opening in a state critical to control of the U.S. Senate.

Inflation Reality on the Ground

Reuters interviewed 19 Trump voters in Capac and other parts of St. Clair County—a region that has steadily shifted Republican in recent years, backing Trump with 66.5% of the vote in 2024.

St. Clair County, located along Michigan’s eastern border, has a population of about 160,000, most of them white. Auto suppliers and manufacturing plants anchor the local economy, but limited access to high-paying jobs has left many residents feeling economically marginalized.

Inflation in the Detroit metropolitan area—which includes St. Clair County—has slowed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall prices rose just 0.7% year-over-year in August, the latest month with available data. A sharp 8.3% drop in gasoline prices partially offset a 9.4% increase in fruit and vegetable costs.

Nationally, inflation has fallen to about one-third of its mid-2022 peak of over 9%, reaching 2.7% in November. However, that headline figure masks steep price hikes in everyday essentials such as meat, coffee, and orange juice, many of which rose at double-digit rates this year.

At the same time, an AI-driven investment boom has strained U.S. energy supplies, pushing electricity prices up 6.9% last month—the largest annual increase since April 2023.

Shifting Voter Sentiment

Most of the voters interviewed said they still blame Biden for inflation and pointed to lower gasoline prices this month as a positive development under Trump. Yet half said they or their families are struggling to make ends meet, including retirees on Social Security, a disabled man, and a former Marine.

Four respondents told Reuters they might seriously reconsider supporting Democrats if inflation does not improve by November. Twelve said they plan to vote Republican, while three were undecided or declined to state their intentions.

Bob Benjamin, a retired auto worker, said he visited the food bank to help his adult grandchildren, who are struggling with food, rent, healthcare, and car insurance costs. Although he voted for Trump in 2024, Benjamin said his future vote would depend on economic conditions.

“If things are getting better, I’ll give him another two years,” he said. “If things start getting worse again, maybe we need a small change.”

Darrell Kalich, an unemployed field maintenance technician and former Marine, said he regrets voting for Trump. He criticized Trump’s focus on foreign policy, citing threats toward Venezuela and recent financial assistance to Argentina, and said he remains unsure how he will vote.

Limits of Presidential Control

Economists say Trump has limited ability to reduce prices quickly, noting that his tariffs increase import costs that are often passed on to consumers.

Trump has not detailed how he would lower prices, instead pointing to tax cuts passed by Congress this year that are set to take effect in January. The White House says Trump will begin campaigning in 2026 to highlight the economic benefits of his policies.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the administration is working to address the “inherited economic crisis” left by Biden, whom he accused of ignoring inflation. “The reality is that Democrats still lack practical solutions for everyday Americans,” Desai said in a statement.

Democrats Prepare Their Counterattack

Democrats plan to make rising prices a central issue in their 2026 campaign, seizing on Trump’s remarks downplaying affordability concerns as a Democratic “hoax.”

Those comments have alarmed some Republicans, who fear they make Trump appear out of touch and could discourage voter turnout.

Michigan Democrats are already tying Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers directly to Trump on inflation, branding him “Price-Hike Mike” in press releases and on social media.

State Senator Mallory McMorrow, one of four Democrats seeking to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters, said that if she secures the nomination, high prices will be a central theme of her campaign.

“The opportunity in the general election is honestly connecting Mike Rogers to Donald Trump,” she told Reuters. “Wealthy men who don’t shop for groceries and don’t understand the real cost-of-living challenges people face.”

Rogers, whose assets are reported to be between $6.7 million and $13.5 million, rejected the criticism, saying his working-class background helps him understand everyday concerns. He argued that Trump’s tariffs would ultimately bring back high-paying manufacturing jobs and raise wages above inflation.

Deepening Political Divide

Trump’s approval rating fell to 39% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week, amid growing dissatisfaction—even among some Republicans—over his handling of the economy. Approval for his performance on cost-of-living issues stood at just 27%.

Support was far lower among Democrats (5%) and independents (16), a crucial voting bloc in competitive races.

Political scientists say the divide reflects entrenched partisan loyalty that has intensified under Trump. Democrats, they note, tended to downplay inflation’s impact during Biden’s presidency, while Republicans often support policies like tariffs despite economists’ warnings about long-term harm.

“You don’t want to believe that your party—the one you value and identify with—is doing the wrong thing,” said Christopher Federico, a professor of political science and psychology at the University of Minnesota.