Voters Back Democrats for Congress as Trump Disapproval Hits Record High
A new poll shows a 7-point lead for Democrats in the race for Congress, driven by a 60% disapproval rating for the president and widespread economic dissatisfaction.
By Robert Marshall ·
Democrats hold a seven-point advantage in the national race for the U.S. Congress, according to a survey conducted by NBC News. The poll, fielded from October 28 to 30, 2026, shows registered voters prefer a Democratic-controlled legislature by a margin of 52% to 45%. This lead represents a two-point increase compared to a similar survey conducted last month.
President Donald Trump faces a disapproval rating of 60%, the highest level recorded in NBC News polls during his two terms in office. His approval rating sits at 40%. Among independent voters, the preference for a Democratic Congress is even steeper, with a 21-point gap favoring the party. Only 3% of respondents remained undecided in the legislative race.
Jeff Horwitt, a Democratic pollster at Hart Research Associates, noted that the presidency is defined by the contrast between two-year-old promises and the immediate political danger. He stated that Trump promised economic prosperity and peace, but voters now express broad concern over rising prices and a conflict with Iran. Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster at Public Opinion Strategies, observed that Democrats currently control the agenda of issues for 2026.
Economic dissatisfaction drives much of the voter sentiment. Approximately 75% of voters are unhappy with the current economic situation. For the first time in 30 years of NBC News polling, more voters report being dissatisfied with their personal finances (51%) than satisfied (49%). Additionally, 50% of voters demand a profound change in the country's direction, a figure that marks a new high in the polling data.
The political map presents a challenge for Democrats, who must win districts and states that Trump carried in 2024. In those areas, 53% of registered voters disapprove of the president, compared to 47% who approve. This is a 10-point drop from March 2025. Despite this, Trump retains strong support among MAGA-aligned Republicans, who approve of his performance by a 93% margin. However, non-MAGA Republicans are more divided, with 54% approving and 46% disapproving.
Voter enthusiasm for the midterms is high, with 70% of respondents rating their interest in the elections as a 9 or 10 on a scale of 10. Democrats lead by 12 points among the most engaged voters. While Republicans are pushing cultural war narratives, Democrats hold a five-point advantage on how well they would manage issues related to transgender people. A Texas voter who backed Trump in 2024 said he prefers a change in the balance of power because Republicans have proven unreliable.
Only 29% of voters hold a positive view of the Democratic Party, compared to 38% for the Republican Party. Nearly half of all voters view both parties negatively. Mike Johnson, the Republican House Speaker, holds the highest positive rating among congressional leaders at 24%, while 34% view him negatively.
