A broad consensus on big political questions is rare in today’s hyper-partisan climate. That’s true in New Hampshire, as it is across the nation. But a new survey from Centerline Liberties uncovers something unusual: near-unanimity among New Hampshire voters on one subject. Families with young children are facing enormous difficulties, and the government — at all levels — is failing to address their concerns.
The numbers are sobering, and they cut across party lines in ways that should capture every policymaker’s attention.
Fifty-eight percent of registered New Hampshire voters believe most families raising young children are struggling, more pessimistic than national voters (52%). Only 2% believe they are thriving. And just 13% are very confident that families in their community have the resources and support they need to raise their children — well below the national figure of 20%.
When asked to grade the government’s performance in supporting young children, most voters give it a “C.” And 62% believe it isn’t doing enough to support families with children. That bleak outlook isn’t driven by ideology, but by the daily realities voters see in their neighborhoods and workplaces.
A significant driver of this dissatisfaction? Childcare costs and availability. Seventy-five percent of New Hampshire voters say it’s expensive, with 37% calling it very expensive. Forty percent report childcare is difficult to find — ten points higher than the national average. The consequences of this ripple outward into disrupted careers, constrained choices and deferred plans. Strikingly, 20% of voters say they’ve delayed or considered delaying having children or had fewer children than they wanted because of childcare costs.
Their recommendations on where to focus resources are concrete: better access to affordable, high-quality childcare, more mental-health resources and more flexible work arrangements. These aren’t extravagant demands. They are practical solutions to the pressures of modern family life.
Amid this widespread dissatisfaction, there is one bright spot: New Hampshire’s childcare scholarships, which help working families pay for care across a range of providers. It earns nearly universal approval — 84% of voters back it, including nearly half who do so strongly. Only 7% oppose it. In today’s contentious political environment, numbers like that are nearly unheard of.
The policy prescriptions are equally clear. Nearly eight in ten want more federal and state investment in early childhood education. Even when reminded of competing priorities like the economy or healthcare, 60% still say early childhood investment should be a top government priority. Support runs deep for programs helping children with developmental delays or disabilities (76%), expanding emotional and behavioral health services (60%), and meeting basic needs like meals, medical care, and health screenings (59%).
Most importantly, these initiatives are popular across the political spectrum. Seventy percent of Republicans support additional investment in early childhood education. Why? Republicans roundly agree that these investments level the playing field for kids regardless of background, they are critical for brain development and they reduce social problems that tear communities apart.
Rarely do we see such overwhelming, broad-based support for significant government investment in any policy area or such little conflict and confusion about Americans’ expectations for policymakers. The voters’s instructions are crystal clear, and smart politics align with good policy. For policymakers, four principles emerge from the data.
First, be honest about the realities families are facing. People know the system isn’t working well — they want their political leaders to publicly acknowledge it as well.
Second, frame this as children’s health, not bureaucratic spending. When positioned as a matter of children’s physical and mental well-being, support for investment is broad and durable across demographic and political groups.
Third, emphasize the bipartisan consensus. The issue’s cross-party appeal is a valuable asset. Make cooperation a feature, not an afterthought. Don’t weaponize one of the few issues where common ground still exists.
Finally, stress the return on investment. Early childhood investments pay dividends in higher productivity, reduced long-term government costs, stronger communities and empowerment of parents by giving them the freedom and flexibility to work.
Policymakers who act on this consensus won’t just be doing right by children and families — they’ll be rewarded politically. Granite Staters don’t see early childhood investments as charity. They see them as essential social infrastructure for New Hampshire’s — and America’s — future stability and prosperity.
Alex Lundry is a leading Republican pollster and the co-founder of the data and analytics firms Redbud Consulting, Deep Root Analytics, and Tunnl Data. His work has been featured by Wired Magazine, Fast Company, and the Washington Post.
