FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2026
CONTACT: Jarice Thompson, jarice@ourfinancialsecurity.org
New Poll Shows Voters Across Parties Agree Wall Street and Private Equity’s Control Over Economy is Concerning
WASHINGTON, D.C.一 New polling released today by Americans for Financial Reform revealed voters across the political spectrum find Wall street and private equity’s control and influence over the financial system deeply troubling. Voters also overwhelmingly agree guardrails must be put in place to curtail private equity’s influence and protect the public.
The poll was completed by a bipartisan polling team from Lake Research Partners and Chesapeake Beach Consulting.
“Voters want fewer special carveouts and more guardrails to prevent private equity and Wall Street from lining their pockets at the rest of our expense,” said Oscar Valdés Viera, Senior Policy Analyst for Private Equity and Capital Markets. “Voters have seen private equity time and time again drive up costs and decrease the quality of service.”
In order to reduce private equity and Wall Street’s endless wealth extraction, new policies are needed. The Stop Wall Street Looting Act addresses many of the predatory elements of private equity’s leveraged buyout business model by holding executives accountable for the damage they cause and closing tax loopholes that incentivize risky financial activities.
Key findings from poll:
- 60% of voters believe Wall Street and the financial industry have too much control over the economy, including 62% of Independents and 50% of Republicans. Only 21% say the extent of their influence is ‘about right’
- After hearing head to head statements 65% of voters think guardrails are needed for Wall Street firms like private equity to prevent short term profit maximization that cuts jobs and reduces the quality of goods and services, versus only 11% who think that they should have special exemptions because they create jobs and keep the economy moving. The first view has much much greater support amongst Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
- Voters are extremely concerned about the impact of PE taking over companies in key sectors like health care and housing. 83% of voters are concerned about PE takeovers in healthcare, 60% are very concerned.
Read the polling memo here.
###