President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low ahead of the midterm elections, with voters expressing widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy, rising gas prices, and the war in Iran.
Just 36% of likely voters approve of Trump’s job performance, compared with 59% who disapprove, according to a New York Times/Siena poll released Wednesday, marking the lowest approval rating for Trump according to the outlet’s polling. Democrats hold an 11-point advantage over Republicans in congressional preferences, giving the party fresh momentum as it seeks to reclaim control of Congress.
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The findings underscore the challenges facing Republicans as they attempt to defend their congressional majorities with less than two weeks before Election Day. Democrats have focused their campaigns on the cost of living, arguing that the administration’s policies, such as tariffs and the Iran war, have failed to ease financial pressures on households.
Economic concerns dominated the poll, with 22% of voters identifying the economy, including jobs and the stock market, as the country’s most important problem. Inflation and the cost of living ranked second at 11%, followed by immigration at 10%.
Voters were particularly critical of Trump’s handling of everyday expenses. Sixty-nine percent disapproved of his handling of the cost of living, while 73% disapproved of his handling of gas prices. Nearly two-thirds also disapproved of his handling of the war in Iran, which has contributed to rising energy costs, sending the national gas price average above $4 per gallon.
More than two-thirds of independent voters disapproved of Trump’s job performance, a troubling sign for Republicans competing in closely contested districts and Senate races. Republicans, however, remain considerably more supportive of the president, with 82% approving of his performance and signature policies, including tariffs and the Iran war.
Trump has responded to the electoral headwinds with an aggressive campaign schedule, traveling across the country to rally Republican voters and boost candidates in competitive races. In recent days, he has campaigned in Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina.
In early September, Trump emphasized his commitment to helping Republicans prevail, saying he planned to visit 35 battleground locations before Election Day. He is scheduled to campaign in South Carolina on Wednesday and Iowa on Thursday, followed by Florida, Georgia, and Michigan later in the week.
“I’m going to go to every one of those 35 places, and we’re going to see if we can get everyone elected,” Trump told reporters in the White House Rose Garden. “We’re going to really work hard.”
The president’s travel blitz comes as some Republicans in competitive races have sought to distance themselves from him, particularly on economic issues, over concerns that voter frustration with his policies could hurt their chances.
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The election will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress during the second half of Trump’s term or if Democrats gain the power to block his legislative agenda and congressional scrutiny of his administration.
The poll was conducted Oct. 12 to 19 among a sample size of 3,494 voters with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.