Polls Show Trump Approval Plummets Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Recent polling indicates a sharp decline in popularity for Donald Trump as the 2026 midterm elections approach. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows registered voters prefer Democrats for Congress by a 12-point margin, with 53% favoring Democratic candidates over 41% for Republicans. Many voters view their congressional choice as a vote against the president, who holds a 39% approval rating and a 53% strong disapproval rating.

Economic dissatisfaction is a primary driver of this shift. A CNN poll reports Trump's economic approval has dropped to 27%, down from 49% in 2018, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll places his overall approval at a career-low 32%. Voters cite the war in Iran, new tariffs, and rising gas prices as major financial hardships. This sentiment extends to rural constituencies; a survey of 2,241 rural registered voters found that approximately half believe the economy has worsened since Trump returned to office, with 60% disapproving of his economic handling and management of the Iran war.

These trends have created friction within the Republican Party. Senate nominees Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Mike Rogers of Michigan have called for an end to the war in Iran and the suspension of gas taxes to combat high diesel prices. While rural voters remain more likely to approve of Trump than the general population, analysts suggest that Democratic gains in critical Senate races in Ohio, Michigan, and Maine may result from Republican voter apathy rather than party-switching.