Deepening Discontent: Poll reveals Voter Concerns and Democratic Advantage Heading into 2026
A new poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with both political parties and key American institutions, even as Democrats appear to hold an advantage heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The survey highlights a disconnect between voters and their representatives, with economic concerns increasingly outweighing issues like immigration for some segments of the electorate.
While former President Trump maintains strong support from his base – 9 in 10 republicans approve of his job performance - his overall approval ratings have slipped. Interestingly, even a plurality of Republicans (40%) prioritize lowering prices over immigration (34%), a sentiment echoed by a larger percentage of the overall population. The poll found that lowering prices was the top priority for 52% of Americans, significantly outpacing immigration at 16%.
This economic anxiety is resonating with some Trump voters. Stokes, a Trump supporter from Dallas, expressed pleasure with the former president’s efforts on border security and foreign aid, but voiced concern that the economy hasn’t been a sufficient focus. “A year into his presidency,” she said, “I’m pleased by his attempts to tackle illegal border crossings and restrict U.S. foreign aid, but I am concerned that the president hasn’t made the economy a focus.” However, Stokes also expressed broader disillusionment with elected officials, stating, “They’re not in tune with anyone on the ground… I don’t really see anyone in [the House] or in the Senate that’s really for the American people right now.”
The poll demonstrates a broader crisis of confidence in American institutions. A majority (61%) expressed little to no confidence in the presidency itself. Even more concerning, 80% had little to no confidence in Congress, followed by the media (75%), the Democratic Party (71%), the Republican Party (65%), and the Supreme Court (62%).
The Democratic Party faces its own challenges with base enthusiasm. While 80% of Republicans expressed “quite a lot” or a “great deal” of confidence in the GOP, only 57% of Democrats felt the same about their party. Dowdy, a Democrat from Memphis, argued the party has become detached from working-class voters. “They don’t interact with working people,” he said, “regardless of whether they work in an office or on a job site or building homes or working in a factory. They don’t know how people like that live… They have no connection to the real people. And there’s no attempt to try and reach that.”
despite this internal disconnect, Democrats currently hold a significant advantage on the congressional ballot. this, combined with recent electoral gains, suggests left-leaning voters may ultimately rally behind Democratic candidates when faced with a choice between them and republicans.
The poll also reveals deep-seated animosity between the two parties. Over 80% of both Republicans and Democrats describe members of the opposing party as “closed-minded,” and more than 70% of Republicans, and roughly two-thirds of Democrats, view the other side as “dishonest” in political discourse.
Independents hold a more favorable view of Democrats. A majority (54%) described Republicans as “mostly dishonest,” while over 60% characterized Democrats as “mostly honest.” Similarly, nearly 70% of independents saw Republicans as “mostly closed-minded,” compared to 53% who described Democrats as “mostly open-minded.” This pervasive lack of respect and understanding contributes to the high levels of political acrimony currently gripping the nation.
