Donald Trump faces voter pushback over economy in midterms, exit poll shows

Voters cast their ballots with deep reservations about the economy and President Donald Trump's leadership in the 2026 midterm elections, according to preliminary findings from the NBC News Exit Poll.

A substantial share of the electorate framed their participation as a direct reaction against the president. Forty-three percent of voters stated that one objective of their vote was to register opposition to Trump. That figure stands considerably higher than the equivalent metric during his first midterm cycle in 2018.

Economic discontent served as a primary catalyst for voter dissatisfaction. The economy ranked as the most urgent issue facing the country, chosen by 39% of respondents, while the condition of democracy followed at 32%. Approximately three-quarters of voters described the national economy as being in poor condition, and 65% indicated that Trump's economic policies had worsened national conditions. Furthermore, 62% attributed elevated consumer costs directly to the president.

Everyday expenses weighed heavily on the public. Broad majorities expressed concern over basic living costs, including groceries at 88%, fuel at 87%, household utilities at 86%, and healthcare at 85%. Just under eight in ten respondents reported that rising prices had caused hardship for their households. When assessing their personal circumstances, 44% reported that their financial health had deteriorated compared to two years prior, while only 18% saw improvement.

The dissatisfaction translated into an approval rating of 38% for Trump, a mark lower than that of any incumbent president on an election day in roughly twenty years. By comparison, his approval stood at 45% during the 2018 midterms. The downturn proved widespread, with majorities of Senate voters in Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas registering disapproval of his tenure.

Disillusionment extended to the broader political landscape, as majorities voiced unfavorable perspectives on both major political parties. The Republican Party drew unfavorable marks from 59% of voters, alongside 41% favorable views. The Democratic Party saw a 54% unfavorable rating compared to 46% favorable. Nearly one out of every five voters viewed neither organization favorably, representing an increase over the past two midterm cycles.

Despite low ratings across the board, voters preferred Democrats to address a majority of central topics, including foreign policy, corruption, healthcare, transgender policy, and the economy. Republicans maintained an advantage on border and immigration issues, while the electorate remained evenly split on taxation and artificial intelligence.

The survey also suggested early shifts among key demographic blocs. After years of declining Democratic allegiance among Latino voters, Democratic identification in that cohort rose to 43%, up from 39% in 2024. Republican identification among Latinos slipped to 27%, widening the Democratic advantage to 16 percentage points. The survey collected responses from in-person voters on Election Day as well as early and mail-in participants.