OKLAHOMA — More than half of Oklahoma voters said they struggled to afford food in the past year, according to a recent poll from Hunger Free Oklahoma.
The organization’s bipartisan poll found that 56% of respondents had difficulty affording food, while 54% said they had to choose between food and other bills.
The findings come as families face rising costs across their household budgets.
University of Tulsa Economics Professor Scott Carter said food prices nationwide and across the region have increased roughly 17% to 25% since 2020.
“I mean, just like we’re seeing right now, the jobs are scarce,” Carter explained. “The prices are just absolutely extreme. The cost of going to school, the cost of raising a family, the cost of feeding your kids, everything is increasing.”
Richard Comeau, the Chief Program Officer for Hunger Free Oklahoma, said the organization’s poll shows families are often forced to make tradeoffs between basic expenses.
“If you dig a little bit deeper, oftentimes they are having to make decisions between food and utilities,” said Comeau. “That comes up most often, but transportation was also a big one, housing and other costs.”
Comeau said those expenses can make it harder for families to keep enough money available for groceries.
He said when costs rise, families may have to decide which bills to pay and how much they can spend on food.
Hunger Free Oklahoma said it’s also hearing that demand at food banks and food pantries is increasing, with families seeking their assistance more often.
The poll was conducted in September 2025 and surveyed registered Oklahoma voters across party affiliations, ZIP codes, income levels and educational backgrounds.
Some of the key findings from the poll are listed below:
56% of respondents struggled to afford food in the past year54% had to choose between food and other bills83% believe the government should do more to address hunger73% support increasing funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)77% are more likely to support candidates who prioritize reducing hunger
The organization released the findings during Hunger Action Month in September.
