FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Media contact:  

Mara Samudrala
Director of Marketing and Communications
Seattle Metro Chamber
(206) 389-7235
maras@seattlechamber.com 

Press Release  

POLL: Seattleites Still Love Their City. They Just Don’t Think It’s Working. 

The latest Index finds Seattleites are caring more about outcomes than ideology. 

 SEATTLE – Today, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce released findings from the 10th edition of The Index, a milestone survey tracking Seattle voters’ views on quality of life and the economy. The findings show that Seattle voters are increasingly concerned about the economy and want city leaders to focus on supporting jobs, strengthening the business climate, and delivering results. 

 After a sustained period of improvement, Seattle’s overall quality-of-life rating declined from 4.81 to 4.54, its lowest level in two years. The shift reflects growing pressure from national economic uncertainty, rising costs, and renewed concerns about public safety. 

 A large majority of voters surveyed believe the country is on the wrong track and are worried about a potential recession and their own financial future. Those concerns are shaping how voters view Seattle’s economy, affordability, and long-term stability. 

 At the same time, voters are clear about what they want to see locally. Voters overwhelmingly agree large businesses are essential to Seattle’s success, yet a majority say the City of Seattle needs to do more to make Seattle a good place to do business. Many are concerned that the cost of doing business is too high and that companies may choose to grow elsewhere. 

 That concern is paired with clear expectations around how the City of Seattle should respond. By a 15-point margin, voters say the City should focus on delivering better results with existing resources rather than raising new taxes. Voters consistently point to public safety, homelessness, and affordability as the areas where they want to see continued progress. 

 “It’s getting harder to get things done in Seattle. Voters feel it, and it’s coming through in the data,” said Joe Nguyen, President and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber. “At a time when people are already worried about a potential recession and their own financial future, they are looking for a city that makes it easier, not harder, to invest, hire, and grow. They want to see progress on public safety and affordability, and they want a clear focus on results. When businesses succeed here, our communities succeed as well.” 

 Across the findings, voters are signaling a consistent message: support the local economy, stay focused on the basics, and deliver results that people can see in their daily lives. 

 Key findings from Index 10: 

  • The Index declined after sustained gains, signaling a shift in sentiment. Seattle’s overall quality-of-life rating dropped from 4.81 to 4.54, its lowest point in two years following a period of steady improvement.  
  • National economic uncertainty is driving local concern. 88% of voters say the country is on the wrong track and 61% are strongly concerned about a recession, contributing to growing anxiety about personal finances.  
  • Large businesses are seen as essential to Seattle’s success. 73% of voters agree large businesses are essential, yet 64% say the City is not doing enough to support a strong business climate, highlighting a gap between priorities and perception.  
  • Cost of living concerns remain high. 54% of voters say city taxes and regulations are a primary or major driver of high costs, and most believe higher business taxes will increase the cost of living.  
  • Public safety, homelessness, and affordability remain top concerns. Voters rank homelessness (36%), public safety (35%), and affordability (28%) as the biggest issues facing Seattle, with public safety concerns rising again.  
  • Voters continue to call for focus on the basics. 57% say maintaining progress on public safety is extremely important, alongside strong support for reducing encampments and supporting local jobs and small businesses.  
  • Downtown shows resilience alongside ongoing concern. 64% of voters say they are visiting downtown the same or more often than last year, and 82% feel safe visiting during the day. However, the share visiting less often has increased by 11 points, signaling a continued uncertainty about Seattle’s downtown recovery. 
  • Voters want results and accountability from city leadership. By a 15-point margin (57% to 42%), voters prefer the City focus on delivering better results with existing resources rather than raising new taxes.  
  • Seattleites remain proud of their city. A strong majority of voters say they are proud to call themselves Seattleites, reflecting continued connection to the city even amid ongoing challenges. 

 The Index is a semiannual survey of Seattle voters that measures perceptions of quality of life, economic conditions, and public policy priorities over time. 

 Polling was conducted by Fulcrum Strategy Group, which interviewed 700 Seattle voters from April 27 to May 3, 2026. In-depth data and cross tabs can be found at www.seattlechamber.com/theindex. 

 About the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
The Seattle Metropolitan (Seattle Metro) Chamber of Commerce is the regional business advocacy organization that engages the innovation and entrepreneurship of its 2,500 members to promote inclusive economic prosperity. Founded in 1882, the Chamber represents a regional workforce of approximately 750,000.