Making Headlines: Child Care Affordability and the 2026 Midterms

In the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections, child care affordability made national and state headlines. From NPR and the Washington Examiner to local outlets in key states, new polling from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) and our state partners helped put child care squarely in the broader national conversation about affordability and the financial pressures facing American families.

For More on FFYF’s 2026 Polling

• National Polling: Child Care and the Affordability Crisis
• See all state polling here: Ohio • Michigan • North Carolina • Nebraska • Louisiana • Kansas • Oklahoma • Mississippi
• FFYF State Resources and Data

The bottom line:

Whether in Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, Louisiana, or across the country, voters are sending the same message: Child care is a major part of the affordability crisis, and policymakers have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for working families.

And it’s making news!

---

3 in 4 U.S. voters say the cost of childcare is a major problem, survey finds

NPR | 7/27/26

“[Child care] a huge cost to families right now, but providers can’t just continue to charge more in order to cover the costs they have,” said FFYF’s Sarah Rittling. That includes everything from the workforce in the building to the cost of operating a business today and the other expenses that go into that.

“I think the important point is that this isn’t unique to families who are living it. There’s a recognition that a lack of affordable, quality child care for families who need it has an impact on the overall economy.”

---

Arizona childcare assistance waitlist jumps to 13,500

Arizona Capitol Times | 7/29/26

“In a recent poll of 1,000 likely U.S. voters conducted for the First Five Years Fund, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for early childcare assistance policies, more than 80% of respondents said childcare is part of an affordability crisis.”

---

Advocates call Ohio childcare costs a crisis for families

Spectrum News One | 8/22/26

“The average cost of child care is just over $13,000; it’s a little higher in Ohio, where it’s just under $14,000,” said FFYF’s Christy Felling.

---

New Ohio poll reveals top concerns for voters in 2026

Columbus Dispatch | 8/27/26

The Dispatch highlighted FFYF and Groundwork Ohio’s polling showing that most Ohio voters view finding and affording quality child care as a crisis or major problem.

---

New poll shows NC voters across party lines see childcare as workforce, affordability issue

News From the States | 9/21/26

“Affordability is top of mind for voters, and childcare costs are a huge part of that affordability crisis voters are facing,” said FFYF’s Joseph O’Hern.

---

Childcare affordability among the top issues for Ohio voters

Ohio Capital Journal | 9/21/26

“When families are talking about the cost of living, we can’t separate childcare from groceries, housing, transportation, utilities, even gas.”

---

Debt to constituents: Politicians must turn focus to costs

Parkersburg News and Sentinel | 9/22/26

“A recent poll commissioned by Groundwork Ohio and the First Five Years Fund showed childcare remains among the significant challenges for families attempting to keep their heads above water.”

---

Childcare is helping to drive Ohio’s affordability crisis: Lynanne Gutierrez

Cleveland.com | 9/23/26

“New polling sponsored by Groundwork Ohio, the organization I lead, and the First Five Years Fund finds that 8 in 10 Ohio voters say the cost of childcare is part of the nation’s broader affordability crisis.”

---

Americans of all ages want more federal help with childcare costs. Gen Z most of all.

The 19th | 10/2/26

“First Five Years Fund has found that lowering childcare costs resonates for voters across pretty much any demographic.”

---

North Carolina voters identify childcare as a major affordability and workforce challenge

EdNC | 10/6/26

“North Carolina families are feeling the strain of high child care costs,” said FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling. “Nearly 8 in 10 voters say child care costs are part of the broader affordability crisis facing this country, and half of parents paying for care say it’s keeping them from getting ahead financially. This is the reality for families across North Carolina, and it’s time for lawmakers to act.”

---

How are Michigan’s families doing?

Rural Innovation Exchange | 10/6/26

Results from  the First Five Years Fund Michigan state polling found that 77% of voters said the cost of child care is a big or small part of the affordability crisis — 40% said their ability to work is affected by coworkers’ child care challenges and 52% of working parents said their ability to work is affected by childcare challenges.

---

North Carolina voters identify childcare as a major affordability and workforce challenge

North Carolina Health News | 10/11/26

“North Carolina families are feeling the strain of high child care costs,” Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, said in an email statement to EdNC. “Nearly 8 in 10 voters say child care costs are part of the broader affordability crisis facing this country, and half of parents paying for care say it’s keeping them from getting ahead financially. This is the reality for families across North Carolina, and it’s time for lawmakers to act.” .

---

A 10-year plan for North Carolina’s youngest children: ‘Invest Early, Build Together’

EdNC | 10/16/26

“A statewide poll recently found that North Carolina voters across political parties view childcare as both an affordability issue for families and a workforce issue for the state.”

---

New poll notes that Louisianans are delaying having kids due to lack of affordable child care

Louisiana Radio Network | 10/22/26

“There’s not enough child care, and the child care that is out there is just too, too expensive; and families want options,” said FFYF’s Sarah Rittling.

The story was also carried by 107.5 Louisiana/Red Peach Live.

---

‘Having kids doesn’t seem very possible’: How voters are feeling about childcare costs

NPR / WBUR Here & Now | 10/27/26

“It’s a huge cost to families right now, but providers can’t just continue to charge more in order to cover the costs they have. That includes everything from the workforce in the building to the cost of operating a business today and the other expenses that go into that.”

The story also underscored the broader economic impact of child care challenges:

“I think the important point is that this isn’t unique to families who are living it. There’s a recognition that a lack of affordable, quality child care for families who need it has an impact on the overall economy.”

The story was also carried by Texas Public Radio, WHRO, KNPR.

---

Here are the messages that could decide the midterm elections as campaigns make their final pitches

Washington Examiner | 10/28/26

“But when you dig a little bit deeper into that, you have, for example, half of parents paying for care in Ohio and North Carolina say that childcare costs are preventing them from saving or getting ahead financially,” said FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling. “One in four voters in Louisiana and North Carolina say childcare costs are causing them to delay starting or growing their families. A third of parents in Ohio, Mississippi, and North Carolina are cutting back on household essentials in order to be able to afford care.”

---

Kansans’ childcare concerns extend to the ballot box

Kansas State Affairs | 10/29/26

Christy Felling, FFYF’s Communications Director, discussed how child care affordability is affecting Kansas families and shaping voter concerns.

“It’s easy to see why people think that the cost of childcare is in crisis,” she said.

---

Poll Shows Kansans’ Concerns About Childcare Costs at Crisis Level

Kansas Public Radio | 10/29/26

More than half of voters polled are worried young families may leave Kansas or not have children because of childcare costs. “It’s easy to see why people think that the cost of childcare is in crisis,” she added.

---

Poll shows child care costs are a below-the-radar campaign issue

The Kansas Journal | 10/30/26

The outlet examined how child care affordability is emerging as an important issue for Kansas voters heading into the midterm elections.

---

Poll: High cost of childcare affects Kansas economy

Kansas Public Radio | 11/03/2026

More than half of voters polled are worried young families may leave Kansas or not have children because of childcare costs. “It’s easy to see why people think that the cost of childcare is in crisis,” she added.