Independent, Infrequent Voters – Michigan Focus Group Report

“Why can’t we have America First and affordable housing? Why can’t it be both? The truth lies somewhere in the middle, right?”

It’s a simple question, but it cuts to the heart of something much bigger. This sentiment, voiced during a series of focus groups hosted by BlueLabs, captures the dominant themes that emerged among independent and infrequent voters when asked about the state of the country today: exhaustion, pragmatism, and a deep frustration with a political system that feels like it was built for someone else. With local primaries approaching ahead of the 2026 midterms, one thing is unmistakably clear: voters are disenchanted with both parties and don’t trust that Democrats or Republicans truly understand how hard it is to be an American right now.

To better understand this disconnect, BlueLabs hosted a series of focus groups in southeast Michigan in early February, targeting key audiences for future Democratic campaigns. I also joined Elliott Morris on his podcast Strength in Numbers to discuss the findings — you can listen to the episode here or read on below. We recruited voters who participate irregularly, feel little enthusiasm about voting, and hold no strong partisan allegiance.

One group leaned Democratic (or had voted for Harris in 2024, if they voted at all), while the other leaned Republican (or had voted for Trump). Both groups were demographically mixed across age, race, gender, education, and marital status.

The people in these rooms weren’t ideologues. They were Americans looking for someone who can improve their day-to-day lives — and wondering why that still feels like too much to ask. Three key themes emerged.

The Struggle

These voters’ primary concern is financial survival. Not getting ahead — just getting through the month. Many are working two or three jobs. They clip coupons, take on roommates, move back in with parents, put off retirement, and skip meals. This is what keeps them up at night.

And the struggle doesn’t just define the present — it makes planning for the future feel pointless. Retirement? Homeownership? These voters aren’t thinking about either. As one Republican-leaning voter put it: “I don’t see myself ever being able to retire.”

What these voters want from political leaders isn’t a ten-point plan. They want to feel like the person asking for their vote has actually lived something close to their life. They’re deeply skeptical of politicians’ promises, but a candidate with a relatable background still gets their attention.

“I would want to see someone who actually understands coming from nothing… A lot of times authority figures never really struggled or anything so they don’t have any empathy.” — 24 year old Democratic-leaning woman

“Need to have fresh faces, fresh ideas. If all you’ve ever done is been a senator since you were 25 years old and you’re 80, you’ve never stepped foot in a grocery store, your car is paid for, your healthcare is paid for — don’t stand there and tell me you know what I’m going through because you don’t have a clue.” — 60 year old Republican-leaning woman

Both groups emphasized that they want political leaders focused on improving life at home. The Republican-leaning group used the language of “America First,” but the underlying demand was identical across groups: stop spending attention and resources abroad while people here are suffering.

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Deep Political Disengagement

These voters haven’t just lost interest in politics. Many of them have made a conscious decision to stop paying attention, because following the news was making their lives worse. The constant negativity of political media, combined with a sense that neither party represents them, has made tuning out feel like the only sane option.

“I’ve just kind of lost faith in politics in general. I served in the military for 10 years… that was my American Dream — just to serve and to continue to serve. And now it’s like, well, why? Nobody cares. And I’m disposable.” — 41 year old Republican–leaning man

“I like to monitor what I watch because I have to try to protect my own peace and my own mental health.” — 41 year old Democratic-leaning woman

“If you have money, they care about you more… If you’re poor, it’s like if you’re a small bug — they step over you and it’s over with.” — 24 year old Democratic-leaning woman

Neither party escapes their criticism. Multiple Republican-leaning voters described Trump and the GOP as “embarrassing,” radical, and extreme — even as they acknowledged liking some of his policy outcomes on immigration and government spending. They don’t like the guy, but they think he’s getting some things done. That’s a complicated place to be, and none of them seemed thrilled about it.

The Democratic Party’s brand is in equally rough shape. These voters give Democrats credit for being the party of the working class, but then immediately say Democrats are weak, ineffective, and don’t follow through — especially on immigration and crime. And their actual policy preferences are all over the map. Republican-leaning independents praised Democratic positions on the environment, healthcare access, and basic rights. These voters aren’t looking for ideological consistency. They’re looking for results.

Many folks in these groups avoid the news as much as possible. When they do follow the news, they’re careful about it — mostly through social media and what family and friends share. Local reporters remain a trusted source.

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Accountability and Corruption

Here’s something that should get campaigns’ attention: when the conversation turned to political corruption, these voters did not think of Trump. Their skepticism runs much wider than one person or one party. They question whether government funds are being used effectively at any level — pointing to waste in military spending, abuse of public benefits, and the inexplicable wealth of elected officials.

“There’s some government officials who have some serious amounts of money. Something really needs to be looked at. If you’re a government employee, how much you make is public record. There’s no reason they should have millions… A lot of money, and probably a little corruption.” — 32 year old Republican-leaning man

“They say like one billion in military expenses goes missing per year… where does that money go? If all my tax money actually went towards actually useful things. Michigan has so many potholes!” — 36 year old Democratic-leaning man

This distrust extends to the democratic process itself. Voters in both groups expressed concerns about election integrity — voter fraud, ballot stuffing, and whether their votes truly count. These aren’t fringe beliefs in these rooms; they’re widespread and held with conviction across partisan leanings. For any campaign hoping to mobilize infrequent voters, this skepticism about whether participation even matters is a fundamental barrier to turnout.

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What This Means

These voters aren’t waiting to be inspired by a party platform. They’re waiting for someone to show them — through their background, their language, their priorities — that they actually get it. 

The opportunity for Democrats is real, but it comes with conditions: these voters are reachable only by candidates who lead with economic empathy, skip the political posturing, and don’t make every conversation about Trump. Because the biggest obstacle to winning these voters isn’t the Republican Party. It’s convincing them that showing up to vote is worth their time at all.

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