Early Exit Polls Show Low Approval for President Trump in Midterms

President Trump faces the lowest approval rating for a sitting president in a midterm election, according to early exit polls currently standing at 38 percent. This figure tracks lower than his first term and drops below the numbers recorded for George W. Bush in 2006 when his party lost both houses of Congress. Midterm voters view the contest as a referendum on the president, with roughly six in ten saying Mr. Trump is a factor in their vote for the House. Democratic voters drive much of this opposition, while the MAGA base largely backs the president.

Economic Concerns

Roughly three-quarters of voters express dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, and anger over economic conditions exceeds levels seen in 2024. Voters are more than twice as likely to report that their personal finances have worsened rather than improved. Majorities across party lines report struggling to afford gas, groceries, and utilities as inflation continues to cause hardship.

Key Issues

When asked to name their top issue, voters put the economy first, followed by the state of democracy. Democratic voters prioritize democracy alongside concerns about government corruption, while Republican voters focus on the economy followed by immigration. Meanwhile, about six in ten voters believe President Trump places his personal interests over the country, and most voters consider the U.S. military action against Iran to be the wrong decision.

Context

Midterm elections in the United States regularly act as a referendum on the incumbent president, often resulting in losses for the governing party in Congress. Exit polls gather real-time data from voters as they leave polling stations to help understand demographic trends and motivations. These early findings reflect deep economic anxieties and partisan divides shaping the current political landscape.