Financial Issues Top Priority for Many American Families

American families are more concerned with economic issues than cultural ones, according to a new study reported in the 2017 American Family Survey.

However, the survey found that conservative and evangelical Trump supporters found different issues more important than Hillary Clinton supporters did.

More than three-quarters of Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton ranked financial concerns among the most important challenges for American families, compared to less than half of Trump voters and just 43 percent of evangelicals. 

On the other hand, nearly 70 percent of Trump voters and 72 percent of evangelicals cited cultural issues, while less than 40 percent of Clinton voters did the same.

President Trump has been focusing lately on financial stress to families--wanting to alleviate that by passing a new tax bill.

"As a Christmas gift to all of our hardworking families, we hope Congress will pass massive tax cuts for the American people. That includes increasing the child tax credit and expanding it to eliminate the marriage penalty. Because we know that the American family is the true bedrock of American life. So true. This is such an exciting event because we are really working very hard, and hopefully Congress will come through," Trump said at the Values Voter Summit.

Conservative and evangelical voters are also united in the priority they place on marriage.

"The most profound differences between Clinton and Trump voters can be found in the question about whether marriage is 'needed' to create strong families," the researchers wrote.

Among Trump voters, 85 percent agreed with the statement, compared to 48 percent of Clinton voters.