U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party suffered major setbacks in the 2026 midterm elections as voters expressed dissatisfaction with rising living costs, economic policies and concerns about government corruption, a new Associated Press voter poll has found.
The survey, conducted among voters across all 50 states, showed that Trump’s failure to fulfil key campaign promises, particularly his pledge to lower prices, contributed to the party’s poor performance.
Many voters believed the president was more focused on his personal wealth and interests than on addressing the economic challenges facing ordinary Americans.
Rising prices of groceries, healthcare, fuel and other essential goods and services featured prominently in voting decisions.
In Texas, about two in 10 voters said inflation had caused severe financial hardship for their families. Approximately three-quarters of this group supported Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
Another six in 10 voters reported moderate financial hardship, with Talarico also securing majority support among them.
Similar patterns emerged across several states, where voters concerned about everyday expenses largely supported Democratic candidates in local House elections.
The poll also found that about two-thirds of voters nationwide believed Trump’s policies had worsened the economy, while approximately eight in 10 of those voters supported Democratic candidates.
Government corruption was another major concern, with more than half of voters describing it as crucial to their decisions at the polls. The issue appeared to compete with the cost of living, even as about six in 10 voters said they were very concerned about rising food and grocery prices.
Some voters also raised concerns about Trump’s financial interests, including his cryptocurrency ventures, family business dealings and efforts to secure corporate donations for a new White House ballroom.
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Overall, about two-thirds of voters said Trump had the wrong priorities, and most in that group backed Democratic candidates in House elections.
The president’s influence over Republican candidate selection also appeared to hurt the party. His endorsements brought scrutiny to candidates’ experience, character and close association with him.
In Texas, Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn during the Republican primary. However, about two-thirds of voters in the Senate election said Paxton lacked the character required to serve in the chamber.
In North Carolina, approximately six in 10 voters considered Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley too supportive of Trump, contributing to support for Democratic candidate Roy Cooper.
Trump suggested that some Republican candidates struggled because the party’s base did not particularly like his endorsements.
The survey also highlighted concerns about checks and balances in Washington. About seven in 10 voters said Congress was not doing enough to oversee the president, including approximately four in 10 Republicans.
“The president’s failure to deliver on key promises, most prominently, his vows to tame inflation, which has worsened instead, clearly weighed on his fellow Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm elections for the House and the Senate.
“The polling shows that voters generally saw Trump as being more focused on his own fortune and gold-leafed existence than their needs,” the survey added.
Despite Democratic gains in both chambers of Congress, the poll found that the results did not amount to overwhelming support for the party. About half of voters viewed the Democratic Party favorably, compared with approximately four in 10 for the Republican Party.
The AP Voter Poll was conducted by SSRS in partnership with major U.S. media organizations, including ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media and NBC News. Interviews took place between October 19 and November. 3, 2026.
Democrats won control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections, dealing a major setback to Trump and the Republican Party.
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