Voter Polls Show Unhappy Midterm Electorate Frustrated With Trump and the Economy

Voters in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections expressed broad unhappiness with the state of the country, the economy and President Donald Trump's job performance, according to voter polls released by CNN and The Associated Press. CNN's Voter Poll found voters broadly dissatisfied with the nation's condition, the economy and Trump, and CNN framed the result as handing Congress to Democrats. The AP Voter Poll, a survey of midterm voters in all 50 states, found most voters exhausted and exasperated by Trump after more than a decade with him at the center of U.S. politics. The AP said his failure to deliver on key promises was a major factor. Early exit polling was released by many outlets on Election Day and showed voters worried about affording items from gas and groceries to utilities, a concern shared across party lines.

The right-leaning Blaze leads with the same dissatisfaction but turns it toward Democrats, with a headline saying voters are very unhappy but Democrats are not popular either. It describes an electorate worn down by inflation and unhappy with the country's direction, and says voters were not very enthusiastic about backing Democrats. It focuses on early Election Day exit polls and quotes a line about affordability concerns across parties. CNN, on the left, leads with Trump and the economy as the cause of discontent and with the outcome, saying Congress goes to Democrats, and puts the president's job approval first. Both agree on the mood of the electorate and on inflation-related strain. They differ on emphasis: the Blaze highlights Democrats' weak standing, while CNN highlights Democratic gains. AP's coverage is closest to CNN, blaming Trump and Republicans for the loss.