Dems Leading Republicans in House Vote as Trump's Approval Rating Hits All Time Low
WASHINGTON — With just over two weeks remaining before pivotal midterm elections, President Donald Trump is confronting record-high disapproval ratings, widespread frustration over household expenses and growing public opposition to his handling of the economy, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll.
The survey, conducted through Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, found that 66% of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance, while just 33% approve — his lowest approval rating in the poll across both presidential terms. At the same time, 72% say the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 71% describe gasoline as unaffordable, a dramatic increase from earlier this year.
The findings point to a political environment in which economic concerns, dissatisfaction with the president and questions about the direction of the country are converging ahead of an election that will determine control of Congress.
In the poll's generic congressional ballot, Democratic candidates lead Republicans by eight percentage points among likely voters, 52% to 44%. The margin is identical among registered voters, with Democrats receiving 50% support compared with 42% for Republicans.
The Democratic advantage has widened since July, when a Washington Post-Ipsos survey found the party leading by just three percentage points among registered voters.
Although the generic ballot cannot predict the outcome of individual congressional races, it provides a measure of the national political climate. Previous midterm elections have demonstrated how the size of a party's polling advantage can correspond with its eventual performance. In 2018, Democrats held an 11-point advantage among registered voters in a fall poll and subsequently won control of the House. In 2022, voters were nearly evenly divided in a comparable survey before Republicans won control of the chamber.
Economic anxiety deepens as everyday expenses strain households
Affordability remains a central concern, with majorities of Americans describing every household expense category measured in the survey as unaffordable.
Gasoline stands out as one of the most dramatic changes. Seventy-one percent of Americans now say gas is unaffordable, compared with just 28% in February, before the war in Iran drove up fuel costs. The national average gasoline price has remained above $4 per gallon for a record 158 days so far in 2026, according to the report.
The financial strain extends well beyond the gas pump.
Sixty-five percent of Americans say health care is unaffordable, up from 56% in February. Fifty-seven percent say home energy and utility costs are unaffordable, compared with 45% earlier this year. Half of respondents now describe rent or mortgage payments as unaffordable, an increase from 37% in February.
Grocery costs remain another major source of concern. Sixty percent of Americans say groceries are unaffordable, up from 45% in February, although that figure remains below the 66% recorded in July.
Even expenses traditionally associated with discretionary spending are increasingly out of reach for many households. Sixty-one percent say going out to dinner is unaffordable, up from 49% in February. Sixty-nine percent say they cannot comfortably afford a weeklong vacation, compared with 60% earlier this year. Eight in 10 Americans say purchasing a new car is unaffordable, up from 74% in February.
The numbers reflect a broad perception that financial pressures are affecting not only necessities but also the activities and purchases that many households once considered attainable.
Overall, 75% of Americans rate the national economy negatively, including 35% who describe it as poor. Nearly half, 48%, say they are not as well off financially as they were when Trump took office — the highest such share across his two presidential terms.
Economic dissatisfaction also corresponds with voting preferences. Among likely voters who describe the economy as poor, Democratic candidates lead Republicans by 72 percentage points on the generic congressional ballot. Those who say they are financially worse off than when Trump became president favor Democrats by 60 points.
Democrats build support among independents
The Democratic lead is being reinforced by independent voters and differences in reported enthusiasm between the parties.
Among independent likely voters, Democratic congressional candidates lead Republicans by 21 percentage points, 56% to 35%.
Partisan loyalty remains strong on both sides. Ninety-eight percent of Democratic likely voters say they support their party's congressional candidates, as do 96% of Republican likely voters for their party's candidates.
However, Democratic voters report greater engagement with the approaching elections. Seventy-two percent say they are absolutely certain to vote, compared with 65% of Republican voters. Forty-four percent of Democrats say they are following the midterm elections extremely or very closely, compared with 31% of Republicans.
Trump's approval ratings also align closely with congressional preferences. Approximately nine in 10 likely voters who strongly disapprove of the president say they intend to vote for the Democratic candidate in their district. More than nine in 10 likely voters who approve of Trump plan to support Republicans.
The relationship is less straightforward among voters who somewhat disapprove of the president. That group favors Republican congressional candidates over Democrats by 58% to 34%.
Voting method also corresponds with different preferences in the poll. Likely voters who plan to vote in person on Election Day, representing about four in 10 voters, favor Republicans by 11 percentage points.
Democrats hold advantages among those planning to vote early. Voters who have voted or plan to vote early by mail favor Democrats by 26 points. Those who have voted or intend to vote early at a polling place favor Democrats by 14 points. Voters who have dropped off or plan to drop off their ballots before Election Day favor Democrats by 50 points.
These figures describe the preferences of voters planning to use different voting methods; they do not establish how many ballots either party will ultimately receive.
Trump's disapproval reaches new highs
The president's overall approval rating has fallen to levels below those recorded in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when 38% of Americans approved of his performance.
In the latest survey, 52% strongly disapprove of Trump, matching his strong-disapproval rating after the Capitol attack and setting a high for his second term. Overall disapproval stands at 66%, also a record across his two terms in the poll.
Among registered voters, Trump's numbers are somewhat less negative but remain underwater: 37% approve of his performance, while 63% disapprove.
The results show particularly pronounced dissatisfaction among independents. Only 22% approve of Trump, while 76% disapprove, including 58% who strongly disapprove. The figures represent record lows and highs, respectively, for his standing among independents across both terms.
Republican support remains considerably stronger, although it has weakened since the beginning of Trump's second term. Seventy-nine percent of Republicans approve of his performance, down from 88% near the start of his presidency. Just 39% of Republicans now strongly approve of Trump, compared with 63% in February 2025.
Meanwhile, 21% of Republicans disapprove of the president, up from 12% in February 2025. Nearly half of Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement — 47% — now disapprove of him.
Trump retains stronger backing among MAGA Republicans, 55% of whom strongly approve of his performance. Even that figure has declined from 65% in February. Approximately six in 10 Republicans identify as supporters of the MAGA movement, a share that has remained relatively stable.
Cost of living emerges as Trump's weakest issue
Trump's ratings are especially poor on the economy and affordability, issues likely to shape voters' assessments of his administration.
Only 21% approve of his handling of the cost of living, while 77% disapprove. The result is comparable to his already weak ratings in an April survey.
On inflation, 23% approve of his performance and 75% disapprove, a deterioration from April, when 27% approved and 72% disapproved.
His overall economic approval rating has fallen to 28%, while 70% disapprove — his lowest approval and highest disapproval on the economy across both presidential terms. In July, 33% approved of his economic performance and 65% disapproved. His economic approval rating previously peaked at 56% in January 2020.
The president also faces widespread opposition to his handling of foreign affairs. Only 27% approve of his handling of Iran, while 70% disapprove. Sixty-five percent of Americans say the United States made a mistake by using military force against Iran.
On relations with U.S. allies, 30% approve of Trump's performance and 68% disapprove. The survey also found that 58% of Americans favor either reducing U.S. military support for Israel, at 25%, or ending that support entirely, at 33%.
Immigration remains Trump's strongest issue in the survey, but even there, disapproval outweighs approval. Thirty-eight percent approve of his handling of immigration, compared with 61% who disapprove.
More than half of Americans, 56%, say Trump is going too far in deporting undocumented immigrants. Another 28% say he is handling deportations about right, while 15% believe he is not going far enough.
On his management of the military, 35% approve and 63% disapprove.
Across all the issues measured, majorities disapprove of Trump's performance, with several ratings approaching or reaching the weakest levels recorded during his two presidencies.
Questions about presidential power and personal enrichment
The poll also found broad concern about Trump's use of presidential authority and his approach to democratic institutions.
Approximately two-thirds of Americans say Trump has gone beyond his authority as president since taking office. Roughly one-third believe he has acted within his authority.
Majorities say Trump is not committed to respecting Congress' authority, protecting freedom of the press or respecting the authority of the courts. Those shares stand at 68%, 67% and 66%, respectively.
Sixty-one percent say he is not committed to ensuring free and fair elections, and an identical share say he is not committed to protecting freedom of speech. The shares expressing concern about his commitment to press freedom, elections and free speech have all increased since October 2025.
Another finding concerns perceptions of personal financial interests. A record 66% of Americans say Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself, up from 62% in February and 56% in September 2025.
The belief is widespread among Democrats and independents. Ninety-four percent of Democrats and 73% of independents say Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself. Among Republicans, 27% share that view.
The survey also found considerable opposition to several presidential projects and government communications initiatives.
Eighty percent of Americans say it is inappropriate for Trump to push to have his name placed on the Kennedy Center, including 59% who consider it totally inappropriate. Majorities across partisan groups share that view, including 57% of Republicans.
Similarly, 74% say it is inappropriate for the federal government to pay for television advertisements promoting Trump and his policies. Fifty-five percent call the practice totally inappropriate.
Trump has said he would pay for the advertisements through political fundraising, but the ads continued to carry a statement indicating they were paid for by the U.S. government. A federal judge subsequently ordered the government-funded advertisements to stop running.
The poll also found that 59% of Americans believe Trump is devoting too much attention to construction projects in Washington, while 27% say he is giving them the right amount of attention and 11% say he is focusing on them too little.
Democrats lead on congressional control and major policy issues
Despite widespread negative views of both political parties, Americans express a clear preference for Democratic control of Congress as a check on the president.
Fifty-nine percent say they would prefer the next Congress to be controlled by Democrats to provide a check on Trump, while 35% favor Republican control to support his agenda.
Americans trust Democrats over Republicans on 10 of the 12 issues measured in the survey.
Democrats hold a 23-point advantage on health care and a 14-point advantage on education, the cost of living and inflation. They also lead by 11 points on handling Iran, by nine points on reducing government corruption and by nine points on transgender issues.
On the economy, Democrats hold a nine-point advantage — their largest lead on the issue since 2022. In previous surveys, the parties had been roughly even or Republicans had held an advantage.
Democrats also lead by seven points on taxes and on the situation involving Israel and Gaza. Voters are roughly evenly divided in their trust in the parties on immigration.
Crime is the only issue on which Republicans hold an advantage, leading Democrats by five percentage points. Even so, the margin represents a relatively strong showing for Democrats on an issue where they had trailed Republicans by double digits for approximately four years.
The findings come as voters express negative views of both parties. The Democratic Party has a favorability rating of 44%, compared with 54% unfavorable. The Republican Party fares worse, with 35% viewing it favorably and 63% unfavorably.
Americans are also more likely to describe Trump and the Republican Party as too extreme than to apply that description to Democrats. Sixty-six percent consider Trump too extreme, as do 55% who say the same of the Republican Party. Thirty-six percent describe the Democratic Party as too extreme.
The MAGA movement has a 28% favorable rating and a 69% unfavorable rating among Americans overall. Within the Republican Party, however, 70% view the movement favorably and 28% unfavorably.
Democratic socialism also receives more unfavorable than favorable views nationally, with 37% viewing it favorably and 59% unfavorably. Among Democrats, 70% have a favorable view of democratic socialism, while 27% view it unfavorably.
Voters who dislike both major parties could also play a role in closely contested races. These so-called double haters, who express unfavorable views of both parties and make up approximately two in 10 voters, favor Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 58% to 32%. The group has been an important swing constituency in elections dating back to 2016.
Republicans face questions about the party's future
The survey suggests that dissatisfaction with Trump has not necessarily translated into a wholesale rejection of his leadership among Republican voters.
Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 61% say the party should continue following Trump's leadership, while 37% believe it should move in a different direction.
That division underscores the competing pressures facing Republicans as they approach the midterms: maintaining the support of Trump's core coalition while contending with concerns about prices, the economy and the president's standing among independents.
For Democrats, the poll points to opportunities among voters who feel financially worse off, disapprove of the administration's handling of the economy or want Congress to serve as a check on presidential power. But the generic ballot remains a national measure, not a forecast of individual district outcomes, and the results do not eliminate the possibility of different patterns in specific races.
The survey's central findings nevertheless show that economic dissatisfaction is widespread, Trump's approval rating has fallen to a new low in the poll, and Democratic candidates hold an eight-point advantage in the congressional preference question.
With Election Day approaching, the extent to which those attitudes translate into votes will be determined district by district, as voters weigh their household finances, the president's performance and which party they want controlling Congress.
The findings are from the ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos' KnowledgePanel. See the full survey results and detailed methodology in the published poll report.