Voters want Congress to check Trump, trust Democrats more

A new poll shows record-low Republican approval on key issues and a strong majority wanting the next Congress to oppose Trump's agenda.

Oct 21, 2026

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Voters want Congress to check Trump, trust Democrats more

A new poll shows record-low Republican approval on key issues and a strong majority wanting the next Congress to oppose Trump's agenda.

In brief

A new poll shows record-low Republican approval on key issues and a strong majority wanting the next Congress to oppose Trump's agenda. Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on major issues and want Congress to check Trump's power, less than two weeks before the 2026 midterms. Originally reported by NPR.

Trump's approval hits new lows

In this file photo from July 2026, President Trump shows off an executive order he signed in the Oval Office of the White House.

President Trump's job approval sits at 34 percent, with 62 percent disapproving and 50 percent strongly disapproving, according to a Strength In Numbers poll.

Republicans losing trust on issues

Voters now trust Democrats more than Republicans on immigration, the economy and other top issues. Trump's ratings hit new lows on seven of ten tracked issues.

“Trump's ratings hit new lows on seven of the 10 issues we've tracked since May 2025, from jobs and trade to immigration and border security, and he's now underwater on every issue we ask about.”

Prices remain voters' top concern

Sixty-three percent of respondents say prices and inflation are one of their top three most important problems, with 39 percent listing it first.

Democrats lead in House and Senate races

Democrats lead in House and Senate races

Voters prefer to elect a Democrat to Congress over a Republican by 52 percent to 41 percent among registered voters and 54 percent to 42 percent among likely voters.

Majority wants Congress to check Trump

Fifty-eight percent of voters say it is more important to elect a Congress to act as a check and balance on Trump, compared to 25 percent who want Congress to help him.

Voters want rollback on multiple issues

A majority of voters surveyed want Congress to roll back or check Trump's stances on tariffs and trade, health care, foreign policy, elections and voting, government spending and immigration.

Some Trump voters now regret their choice

Nearly one in ten people who said they voted in the 2024 presidential race regret their choice, including almost 15 percent of self-described Trump voters.

The one thing

Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on major issues and want Congress to check Trump's power, less than two weeks before the 2026 midterms.

Read the original on NPR

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