Simply over two-weeks out from consequential midterm elections, a document share of Individuals disapprove of President Donald Trump, about 7 in 10 say gasoline is unaffordable and that the nation is headed within the improper path, in accordance with an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally in Wasilla, Alaska, October 13, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters
Midterms
By an 8-percentage level margin, doubtless voters assist the Democratic candidate in congressional district elections over the Republican candidate, 52% to 44%. That margin stays 8 factors amongst registered voters total, 50% to 42%, an enchancment from a July Washington Post-Ipsos poll for Democrats, when simply 3 factors separated the Democrats from the Republicans.
Though management of the Home will in the end be decided in votes for particular person candidates in particular person congressional districts throughout the county, the generic Home query is a helpful barometer. For instance, earlier than the final midterms, a fall 2022 ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll discovered registered voters practically break up and Republicans went on to win Congress. In a fall 2018 poll, Democrats had an 11-point lead over Republicans amongst registered voters and Democrats went on to win the Home that 12 months.
Overwhelming shares of partisans assist their get together’s candidates – 98% of Democratic doubtless voters and 96% of Republican doubtless voters every assist their get together candidates.
Democrats are bolstering their lead amongst impartial doubtless voters, who assist Democratic candidates by a 21-point margin, 56% to 35%.
An individual holds an “I Voted” sticker within the city corridor in Bangor, Maine, throughout early midterm voting, October 16, 2026.
Charly Triballeau/AFP through Getty Photographs
Democrats are additionally benefiting from the truth that there’s extra enthusiasm from their supporters. Extra Democratic voters (72%) than Republican voters (65%) say they’re completely sure to vote and extra Democratic voters are following the midterms “extraordinarily” or “very” carefully than Republican voters – 44% to 31%.
About 9 in 10 of the roughly half of doubtless voters who strongly disapprove of Trump plan to vote for the Democratic candidate of their congressional district. And over 9 in 10 of the doubtless voters who approve of Trump plan to vote for Republicans. However the roughly 1 in 10 voters who considerably disapprove of Trump assist the Republican candidate over the Democratic one by a double-digit margin, 58% to 34%.
The economic system
Half or extra Individuals name each family buy class measured “unaffordable” within the newest ballot, together with 71% who now name gasoline unaffordable, up from 28% who mentioned the identical in February, earlier than the conflict in Iran drove up gasoline prices. The nationwide common gasoline value has topped $4 a gallon for a record 158 days in 2026 to this point.
An growing share of Individuals additionally name healthcare unaffordable (65%, up from 56% in February) together with house vitality and utility prices (57%, up from 45%) and lease or mortgage (50%, up from 37%).
And 60% name groceries unaffordable, additionally up from February (45%) however lower than July (66%).
Rising shares of Individuals name relative luxuries unaffordable, too. A 61% majority of Individuals name going out to dinner unaffordable, up from 49% in February. Much more, 69%, say a weeklong trip is unaffordable, up from 60%. And 80% name a brand new automobile unaffordable, up from 74% in February.
In all, 75% of Individuals fee the nation’s economic system negatively, together with 35% who name it poor. Roughly half, 48%, say they’re “not as properly off” as they have been when Trump turned president, a excessive over each of his presidential phrases.
Probably voters who fee the economic system poorly assist Democrats over Republicans within the generic poll by 72 factors. Probably voters who say they don’t seem to be as properly off assist Democrats over Republicans by 60 factors.
Past simply the economic system, Individuals are sad with the path the nation is transferring in: 72% say issues within the nation are headed within the improper path; simply 26% say issues are not off course.
President Trump
Trump’s weak approval rankings don’t bode properly for his get together provided that midterms are sometimes a referendum vote on the president. And Trump’s approval score has reached a document private low of 33% p.c within the ABC Information/Washington Publish/Ipsos ballot, lower even than after the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol when 38% accepted. At this time, 66% of Individuals disapprove, a document excessive over each phrases.
Simply over half of Individuals, 52%, strongly disapprove of Trump, matching his robust disapproval score after the Jan. 6 assault, and a document excessive for his second time period, in accordance with the ballot.
Over each of his phrases, a record-low 22% of independents approve of Trump and a record-high 76% disapprove, together with 58% who strongly disapprove – one other document excessive over each of Trump’s phrases.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press earlier than boarding Marine One on the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, October 16, 2026.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
Amongst Republicans, 79% approve, down simply barely from a July Publish-Ipsos ballot however down considerably from 88% close to the start of his second time period. And a record-low 39% strongly approve of Trump, down from 63% in February 2025. At this time, 21% of Republicans disapprove, up from 12% in February 2025. That features practically half of non-MAGA Republicans (47%) who disapprove immediately.
A majority of MAGA Republicans strongly approve of the president, 55%, however that’s down from 65% in February. About 6 in 10 Republicans contemplate themselves supporters of the MAGA motion, each now and in February.
Amongst registered voters total, Trump’s total approval score is barely higher: 37% approve and 63% disapprove.
Majorities of Individuals additionally disapprove of how Trump is dealing with each concern measured, and for a lot of points, Trump is at or close to record-low approvals.
His worst concern is dealing with the price of residing within the U.S. — maybe the defining concern for the 2026 midterms — and his rankings are equally low to what they have been within the ABC/Post/Ipsos poll in April. Now, simply 21% approve whereas 77% disapprove.
Trump has equally low rankings on dealing with inflation: 23% approve and 75% disapprove, a worse margin than in April when 27% accepted and 72% disapproved.
On the economic system total, 28% approve of how Trump is dealing with issues and 70% disapprove, a record-low approval and a record-high disapproval over each of Trump’s phrases. In a July Publish-Ipsos ballot, 33% accepted and 65% disapproved. His approval score on the economic system peaked at 56% in January 2020.
On Iran, 27% approve of how Trump is dealing with the scenario and 70% disapprove, just about the identical as in a July Publish-Ipsos ballot. A 65% majority of Individuals say it was a mistake for the U.S. to make use of army pressure towards Iran.
On relations with U.S. allies, 30% approve of how Trump is dealing with issues and 68% disapprove. A 58% majority of Individuals say the U.S. ought to both cut back army assist to Israel (25%) or finish it fully (33%).
Trump’s finest concern is immigration, the place 38% approve and 61% disapprove, barely down from his July approval rankings on the difficulty. A 56% majority of Individuals say Trump is “going too far” in deporting undocumented immigrants whereas 15% say he’s “not going far sufficient” and 28% say he’s dealing with it about proper.
On how Trump is managing the army, 35% approve and 63% disapprove.
About two-thirds of Individuals say since taking workplace, Trump has “gone past his authority as president;” a couple of third say he has acted inside his authority.
Majorities of Individuals say Trump is “not dedicated” to respecting the authority of Congress (68%), defending freedom of the press (67%), respecting the authority of the courts (66%), free and truthful elections (61%) or defending freedom of speech (61%). Shares of Individuals saying that Trump is just not dedicated to defending freedom of the press, free and truthful elections and freedom of speech are all up from final October.
A record-high 66% of Individuals say Trump is utilizing the presidency to counterpoint himself, up from 62% in February and 56% in September 2025. Majorities of Democrats (94%) and independents (73%) together with simply over 1 / 4 of Republicans (27%) say Trump is utilizing the presidency to counterpoint himself.
A person appears to be like on as employees load in additional barricades on the most important constructing of the John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts in Washington, September 17, 2026.
Kent Nishimura/AFP through Getty Photographs
Extensive majorities of Individuals additionally say that it’s “inappropriate” for Trump to push to have his name put on the Kennedy Center (80%, together with 59% who say it’s “completely inappropriate”), together with majorities throughout partisan teams. Even 57% of Republicans say it’s inappropriate.
And on the subject of the federal authorities paying for TV ads promoting Trump and his policies, 74% say it’s inappropriate, together with 55% who say it’s completely inappropriate. Trump has mentioned he would pay for the adverts from political fundraising coffers, however the adverts continued to air with a line saying they have been “paid for by the U.S. authorities.” A federal choose has ordered the government-funded ads to stop running.
About 6 in 10 Individuals say Trump is concentrated an excessive amount of on building projects in D.C. (59%); simply 11% mentioned he’s targeted too little and 27% say he’s targeted “the correct amount” on constructing initiatives.
Most Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the get together ought to observe Trump’s management going ahead (61%), with 37% saying the get together ought to go in a unique path.
By a large margin, Individuals want that the following Congress be managed by Democrats, to behave as a verify on Trump (59%) than by Republicans, to assist Trump’s agenda (35%).
Belief to deal with key points and get together favorability
Individuals belief Democrats over Republicans to deal with 10 out of 12 points measured on this ballot.
U.S. adults belief Democrats over Republicans by 23 factors to deal with healthcare and by 14 factors to deal with schooling, the price of residing and inflation – all by wider margins than they’ve just lately. Individuals belief Democrats over Republicans by 11 factors to deal with the scenario with Iran, by 9 factors to deal with decreasing corruption within the authorities and transgender points. Individuals belief Democrats by 9 factors to higher deal with the economic system, the most important margin they’ve had on the difficulty since 2022 – beforehand they’ve been about tied with Republicans or have been at a deficit to them. Adults belief Democrats over Republicans by 7 factors to deal with taxes together with the scenario with Israel and Gaza.
The general public is roughly divided on whether or not they belief Democrats or Republicans to do a greater job dealing with immigration.
Individuals belief Republicans greater than Democrats to deal with only one concern, crime, for which they like Republicans by a 5-point margin. Nonetheless, that’s a latest excessive mark for Democrats, who’ve trailed Republicans on the difficulty by double digits courting again 4 years.
Voting cubicles are seen within the city corridor in Bangor, Maine, throughout early midterm voting, October 16, 2026.
Charly Triballeau/AFP through Getty Photographs
Individuals really feel destructive towards each the Democratic and Republican events, however whereas the Democratic Get together is simply 10 factors underwater on favorability (44% favorable and 54% unfavorable), the Republican Get together is worse at 28 factors underwater (35% favorable and 63% unfavorable).
Double haters, those that are unfavorable towards each events, who make up about 2 in 10 voters, favor the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate within the generic poll by 26 share factors, 58% to 32%. This has been a key swing group in earlier elections courting again to 2016.
Extra Individuals name Trump and the Republican Get together “too excessive” – 66% and 55%, respectively – than the Democratic Get together (36%).
The MAGA motion is underwater by 41 share factors, with 28% favorable and 69% unfavorable. Amongst Republicans, 70% are favorable and 28% are unfavorable.
Democratic socialism is underwater by 22 factors, 37% of Individuals are favorable and 59% are unfavorable. Amongst Democrats, 70% have a positive view of democratic socialism and 27% are unfavorable.
Probably voters who plan to vote in numerous methods have completely different vote preferences. Voters who plan to vote in particular person on Election Day make up about 4 in 10 voters and assist Republicans over Democrats by 11 factors.
However the different methods voters plan to vote have a Democratic benefit: Those that plan to – or who’ve already voted early by mail – who make up just below 3 in 10 voters, assist Democrats over Republicans by 26 factors. A couple of quarter of doubtless voters plan to vote early at a polling place or have already got, they usually favor Democrats by 14 factors. And about 1 in 10 voters plan to or have dropped off a poll earlier than Election Day they usually assist Democrats over Republicans by a large 50-point margin.
See PDF for full results and detailed methodology.
Methodology: This ABC Information/Washington Publish/Ipsos ballot was carried out through the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel Oct. 9-13, 2026, amongst 2,545 U.S. adults together with 2,032 registered and sure voters and has an error margin of +/- 2 share factors total and +/- 2.2 factors amongst registered and sure voters. All registered voters have been assigned a likelihood of voting to provide doubtless voter outcomes. Error margins amongst most different subgroups are bigger.
ABC Information’ Liz Schreier contributed to this report.
Electronic mail ABCNEWS.Polls@abc.com to be added to ABC Information’ polling distribution listing.
Extra ABC Information polls will be discovered at abcnews.com. Media contacts: Jeannie Kedas and Van Scott.
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