With the midterm elections drawing closer, a new national survey suggests Democratic voters are more engaged than Republicans. The poll also shows widespread unhappiness with the direction of the country and historically weak approval numbers for President Donald Trump.
What the survey covered
The Pew Research Center questioned 5,062 U.S. adults between September 28 and October 4, 2026. The group included 3,917 registered voters. All respondents belong to the organization’s American Trends Panel, and the results are meant to reflect the views of the adult population as a whole. The analysis looked at engagement with the upcoming elections, opinions about the state of the nation, and attitudes toward the two parties and the Trump presidency.
Economy tops the list of concerns
The economy remains the leading issue for voters, and the poll finds that opinion on it is worsening. Worries about prices, especially for gasoline and energy, are rising. Some 84% of registered voters said the economy is very important to their choice at the ballot box. That includes 88% of Democratic supporters and 82% of those backing Republicans, so the concern crosses party lines.
A separate consumer sentiment survey points the same way. Joanne Hsu, who directs the Surveys of Consumers, said frustration over living costs keeps growing, and that people from across the political spectrum believe the economy has weakened since the start of the year.
Democrats hold a lead on the House ballot
When registered voters were asked which party they would back in a House race if the vote were held now, 44% chose a Democrat and 36% chose a Republican. That is an 8-point advantage for Democrats. The findings add to signs that the party in the White House faces a tough environment this fall.
Erosion among Trump’s own backers
The president’s approval rating is near record lows for his time in office. Pew notes that much of the drop since he took office has come from people who voted for him in 2024. Among validated Trump voters from that election, 67% now approve of his performance, while 31% disapprove.
Political backdrop
The findings arrive as Republicans are working to protect their positions in several states. Trump traveled to Texas this week to rally support for Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is facing a difficult race against Democrat James Talarico. Reports on the event said at least a dozen protesters interrupted the president as he spoke. Elsewhere, Democrats have gone to court to challenge a government-funded series of pro-Trump advertisements, arguing it breaks federal restrictions on using public money for partisan messaging.
Taken together, the polling suggests that economic anxiety, particularly over fuel and energy costs, is shaping how Americans view both parties. It also suggests that Democratic voters are currently more motivated to turn out. Surveys capture only a moment in time, and the weeks before Election Day could still shift opinion, but the numbers show a considerable challenge for Republicans.
Source: Pew Research Center
