Democrats have a narrow but significant lead over Republicans a year before the 2026 midterm elections, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The poll shows that 47% of registered voters in their district favor the Democratic candidate, compared to 42% who support the Republican candidate.
While the Democrats’ 5-point lead is smaller than the 11-point lead they held a year before the 2018 midterms, it still signals a positive trend amid growing dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s second-term performance.
Trump’s approval rating at new low
President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 37%, his lowest in a second term and matching the lowest point of his first term. His disapproval rating now stands at 63%, the highest of either presidency.
A CNN poll puts Trump’s approval rating slightly higher at 41%, but both metrics confirm a steady decline across party and demographic groups since the summer of 2025.
Voter motivation favors Democrats
Democratic-leaning voters appear significantly more energized heading into 2026. About 67% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they are “extremely motivated” to vote, compared to 46% among Republican-aligned voters.
Those most concerned with the “state of democracy” are particularly excited, with 82% citing strong motivation for the election, far outstripping the 57% who cite the economy as their top concern.
The party’s image is still weak, but not costly
Despite internal discontent, Democrats are holding the polls together. Only 65% of Democratic-leaning voters have a favorable view of their party — compared to 80% of Republican-leaning voters with positive views of the GOP — but even those with unfavorable views remain loyal.
Among Democrats who have a negative view of their party, 93% still plan to vote for the Democratic candidate, and 71% say they are highly motivated to turn out.
Public dissatisfaction with Trump’s leadership
The poll found widespread dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of major issues.
State of the Nation: 68% say things are not going well in the US.
Economy: 72% describe conditions as bad; 61% believe Trump’s policies have made things worse.
Government shutdown: 81% see it as a major problem or crisis, with 61% disapproving of Trump’s response.
A majority of Americans (56%) also believe his foreign policy has hurt America’s standing, while 57% think he has gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants.
Concerns about democracy and presidential power
A quarter of Americans (26%) say the state of democracy is the most important issue facing the country, highest among Democrats (45%).
Meanwhile, 61% believe Trump has abused his presidential powers, a nine-point jump since February. Discontent is also evident over his decision to dismantle the East Wing of the White House – 54% oppose, while only 10% approve.
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Congress also faces criticism
A majority of Americans (55%) say Republicans in Congress are doing too much to support Trump, up from 48% earlier this year. However, 63% of GOP voters say their party’s level of support for Trump is “about right.”
On the other hand, 69% of Democratically engaged voters believe that Democrats in Congress are not doing enough to stand up to Trump, revealing continued tensions in the party’s base.
About the poll
The CNN poll, conducted by SSRS from Oct. 27-30, 2025, polled 1,245 adults — including 954 registered voters — online and by phone. The margin of sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points for all adults and ±3.6 points for registered voters.
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