Trump Fatigue, Democracy, and Cost of Living Are Top Issues for Voters, Survey Finds

A new poll from the Associated Press shows that most American voters are unhappy with President Donald Trump as midterm elections arrive on Tuesday. About 6 in 10 voters say they strongly disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president. The biggest concerns voters have are the rising cost of everyday items, the state of American democracy, and Trump's overall performance in office.

The poll found that roughly three-quarters of voters say they feel 'angry' or 'dissatisfied' with how things are going in the country. Most of them — about 6 in 10 — believe that higher prices are mainly caused by Trump's policies, not by outside forces beyond his control. Around 70% of voters also say they want Congress to do more to limit and check the president's power.

About 4 in 10 voters say the economy is the most important issue facing the country right now. Around 3 in 10 say that protecting democracy is their number-one concern. Issues like crime, healthcare, and immigration ranked much lower on the list.

History shows that midterm elections are usually tough for whichever party controls the White House. In almost every modern midterm, the president's party has lost seats in Congress. Democrats are hoping that pattern holds true this year, given Trump's low approval ratings and voter concerns about rising prices and the war with Iran.

Democrats need to gain seats in both the House and the Senate to take control of Congress. If they win, they would have more power to check and limit what Trump can do as president. Right now, Republicans hold a 53–47 lead in the Senate, and Democrats need to flip four seats to take control.

Trump is counting on his strongest supporters — especially white working-class voters — to show up in big numbers and keep Republicans in power. However, signs suggest Democrats may be more motivated to vote this year. Groups that supported Trump two years ago, including Hispanic and Black voters and younger Americans, may now vote against him.

More than 59 million Americans had already cast their ballots before Election Day began. Many election watchdog groups worry that Trump or his supporters could try to interfere with the voting process. Because of this, Democrats and nonpartisan groups have trained tens of thousands of volunteers to watch over polling places.

There are concerns about whether the federal government might interfere in the election. The Trump administration tried — and failed — to stop California from counting 20,000 ballots it said may have come from noncitizens. Trump's Department of Justice is also sending around 1,000 staff members to observe voting across the country.

Democratic leaders spent weeks planning how to respond to more than 150 possible ways the federal government might interfere with the election. They set up what they called a 'War Room' to prepare for different situations, especially in the days after the vote. Hundreds of groups and watchdogs will be on alert throughout the week.

In the House, most political experts believe Democrats are on track to win a majority, since Republicans currently hold only a slim 220–215 lead. Democrats are going after more than 60 districts, including some where Trump won by large margins. Early results from Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia could give the first clues about how the night will go.

Redistricting — the redrawing of voting district boundaries — has also shaped this election in important ways. After the Supreme Court weakened part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, several Southern states redrew districts in ways that reduced the voting power of Black Americans. Republicans used redistricting in states like Florida and Texas to try to gain seats, but that strategy may not work as well if voters who backed Trump before decide to switch sides this time.