Polls Show Trump Weak as Republicans Face Midterm Pressure
Two polls published ahead of the November 2 midterm elections found broad disapproval of President Donald Trump. A Morning Consult survey put his approval at 41 percent and disapproval at 56 percent, a net rating of minus 15. It also found Democrats leading Republicans by seven points in the generic congressional race among probable voters, 50 percent to 43 percent.
A separate Civiqs tracker put Trump’s national approval at 33 percent and disapproval at 60 percent, for a net rating of minus 27. Its state figures showed negative net approval in 39 states and every major battleground. Wyoming was his strongest state, at plus 18; nine states had positive ratings, while Kansas and South Dakota were evenly divided.
The Morning Consult survey also found that 68 percent of Republican voters thought their party was moving in a positive direction, with that share down from 73 percent over the previous four weeks. Voters were more likely than they thought the administration was to prioritize reducing costs: 72 percent said lowering prices should be a top priority, while 49 percent believed Washington was pursuing it.
Republican lawmakers have privately raised concerns that a major defeat could weaken Trump’s influence in the party, while others have defended his continued role. White House spokesman Davis Ingle called Trump the GOP’s “best messenger” and said his record would motivate its coalition. Political scientist Costas Panagopoulos said midterms often serve as a verdict on the incumbent party, and that Trump’s rallies may mobilize supporters but could have mixed effects in congressional races.
Voters’ Disapproval Puts Trump and GOP Majorities at Risk
The numbers heading into the November 2 midterms point to a clear warning for Republicans: voters are unhappy with Trump’s performance and unconvinced the administration is focused on their costs. Morning Consult found 56 percent disapproved of Trump, while only 41 percent approved. Democrats led the generic congressional ballot by seven points among likely voters.
Civiqs put Trump’s national net approval at minus 27 and found him underwater in 39 states and every major battleground. Even in Republican territory, his standing had slipped from the start of his second term. His net rating fell 38 points in Kentucky and 32 in Idaho; Ohio and Texas were both at minus 19.
The cost-of-living gap is especially stark: 72 percent said lowering prices should be a top priority, but only 49 percent believed Washington was pursuing it. On housing, 59 percent wanted greater attention, compared with 39 percent who said it was a top administration priority. These are not abstract complaints; they are central tests of an administration that holds power.
Republicans have privately worried that a major loss could make Trump a liability and weaken his grip on the party. The White House instead argues his record will motivate voters. But as political scientist Costas Panagopoulos noted, midterms often become a verdict on the incumbent party, and Trump’s involvement could fail to help some candidates—or prove counterproductive.
Polls Capture Trump’s Headwinds as GOP Candidates Face Midterms
With control of Congress at stake on November 2, polls found Trump facing a difficult political climate: Morning Consult measured his approval at 41 percent and disapproval at 56 percent, and gave Democrats a seven-point edge among likely voters on the generic ballot. Civiqs showed even lower national approval, at 33 percent, against 60 percent disapproval.
Those figures are a challenge for Republicans, but they do not erase the president’s role as the party’s leading messenger. The White House says Trump’s record on taxes, prescription-drug costs, border security, energy, jobs and retirement accounts can rally the voters who put him in office. Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, called him the GOP’s “best messenger” and framed the choice as a contest between the administration’s agenda and Democratic policies.
Trump’s support remains positive in nine states, led by Wyoming at plus 18, though his net approval has fallen in every state since January 20, 2025. Civiqs also found negative ratings across all major battlegrounds. The Morning Consult survey showed 68 percent of Republicans still believed their party was headed in the right direction, even as that share had fallen from 73 percent four weeks earlier.
Trump has urged supporters to treat him as if he were on the ballot. Costas Panagopoulos said rallies may energize committed Republicans to vote and volunteer, although their effect on congressional races is mixed. Republican lawmakers have voiced private concerns about a major defeat, while others expect Trump to remain influential regardless of the result.
Reported by Daily Mail US, The Dispatch, Newsweek, CBS News, CNN.
