Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low as Democrats Gain Momentum Ahead of 2026 Midterms

President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains at its lowest point since the start of his second term in January, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The survey, released Thursday, shows that while Trump’s approval has held steady at around 40 percent, his disapproval rating has climbed sharply, rising from 52 percent in mid-May to 58 percent in November. The nationwide online poll, conducted over six days this month, asked 1,200 U.S. adults for their views on major political figures and their plans for the 2026 midterm elections. The results suggest that Democrats are showing more enthusiasm about the upcoming races than their Republican counterparts — a shift that may reflect a string of recent Democratic victories in key off-year elections. According to the poll, 44 percent of registered voters who identify as Democrats said they were “very enthusiastic” about voting in the 2026 midterms, compared with just 26 percent of Republicans. Similarly, 79 percent of Democrats said they would regret not voting, while 68 percent of Republicans felt the same. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be up for election next year. Republicans currently control both chambers, but Democrats are hoping to build on their recent wins to regain momentum. Those victories came earlier this month, when Democrats secured major wins in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races. In New York City, progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani cruised to victory in a highly watched mayoral contest, defeating both centrist and right-wing challengers. Meanwhile, voters in California approved a ballot measure to redraw congressional districts in a way that favors Democrats — a direct response to what many viewed as partisan gerrymandering in several Republican-led states. The Reuters/Ipsos poll closed on Wednesday, just before Congress voted to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The 43-day shutdown had caused widespread disruptions, leaving federal workers unpaid, grounding some air travel, and straining public services. A new spending bill, which funds the federal government through January 30, passed the House of Representatives by a narrow margin of 222 to 209, with six Democrats joining Republicans to support the measure. The Senate had approved the bill earlier in the week, after seven Democrats and one independent broke ranks to vote in favor. President Trump signed the measure late Wednesday night, officially reopening the government. Despite the political turmoil, the poll shows that the two major parties remain closely matched in voter intentions. When asked which party they would support if the congressional elections were held today, 41 percent of registered voters said they would choose the Democratic candidate, while 40 percent said they would back the Republican candidate — a difference well within the poll’s three-point margin of error. The results suggest that while Democrats may currently have an enthusiasm edge, the battle for control of Congress remains highly competitive. With Trump’s approval rating at a sustained low and public frustration still high after the shutdown, both parties are gearing up for what could be one of the most closely contested midterm seasons in recent history.

NEWS