Trump Midterm Poll: CNN Survey Shows Economic Approval at 27%

Trump Midterm Poll: Economic Worries Deepen Republican Troubles, CNN Survey Finds

With the 2026 midterm elections drawing closer, a fresh national survey suggests Republicans are heading into November with more headwinds than they had the last time Donald Trump was president in a midterm year. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds Trump at record unpopularity, leaving Republicans with a bleaker midterm landscape than eight years ago.

This post walks through the key numbers from the poll, how they compare with 2018, and what they do and don't tell us about the midterms.

Key takeaways

• Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot, though by less than in 2018.
• Trump's approval on the economy has fallen sharply since his first term.
• Enthusiasm for Trump among Republicans has dropped.
• Democratic-leaning voters report more motivation to vote.
• Voters are also skeptical about what a Democratic-controlled Congress would deliver.

Democrats hold an eight-point edge on the generic ballot

Nationally, voters prefer Democratic candidates over Republicans by eight points, which is a little smaller than the 12-point advantage Democrats had in CNN's September 2018 polling. Asked about their own congressional district, voters say 49% to 41% that they would support a Democratic candidate over a Republican.

The smaller margin might look like good news for Republicans, but the poll's authors argue the overall picture is worse for them. Trump is even more unpopular than he was in 2018, and the economic backdrop has worsened considerably.

The economy: from strength to weakness

The sharpest contrast with 2018 is on the economy. In his first term, Trump had net-positive ratings on the economy, which Americans largely saw as thriving. That has reversed.

Just 27% of Americans now approve of Trump on the economy, down 22 points from 2018, and 28% call economic conditions good, a drop of 41 points. The economy is also weighing more heavily on voters' minds: two-thirds of registered voters call it extremely important to their vote, higher than in the autumn before either of the past two midterms.

Other numbers point the same way:

• Only 13% say they strongly approve of his performance, another career low.
• Just 24% say he has the right priorities.
• A scant 20% approve of his handling of inflation.
• Two-thirds of Americans say Trump has worsened economic conditions in the country.

Iran war and tariffs add to the pressure

The poll also points to two policy areas that appear to be feeding economic anxiety. The survey highlights the war in Iran and new tariffs as factors in how Americans view the economy. Among Republicans, 59% say the Iran war has hurt their finances.

Republicans are not deserting Trump, but enthusiasm is down

Trump still has the backing of most of his own party, but the intensity of that support has faded. Only 35% of Republicans strongly approve of him, down from 66% in September 2018. Half of Republicans disapprove of his handling of inflation, and nearly half say he has either worsened economic conditions or had no effect on them.

Lukewarm support can matter in a midterm, where turnout often decides the outcome.

The motivation gap

Turnout is another area where Democrats currently have an edge. Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters are 16 points likelier than GOP-aligned voters to say they are extremely motivated to vote this year.

A caution for Democrats too

The poll is not simply a story of one party's weakness. Anger at Trump and deep dissatisfaction with the status quo are paired with real skepticism about the prospects of a Democratic-controlled Congress. In other words, frustration with the current president doesn't automatically translate into confidence in the opposition, and Democrats will need to make a positive case to voters.

How the poll was conducted

• Pollster: SSRS, for CNN
• Dates: September 16-17, 2026
• Sample: 1,206 respondents, surveyed by web and telephone on the SSRS Opinion Panel, a nationally representative, probability-based panel of U.S. adults.
• Margin of error: plus or minus 3.5 points at the 95% confidence level.

What to watch before November

A single poll is a snapshot, not a forecast. A few things are worth tracking:

1. Economic sentiment: whether views on prices, tariffs and the Iran war improve or worsen.
2. Turnout enthusiasm: whether the motivation gap holds through election day.
3. The generic ballot: whether the eight-point Democratic lead grows, shrinks or stays put in other polls.
4. District-level races: national numbers don't decide individual House and Senate contests.

Frequently asked questions

What does the CNN poll say about Trump's midterm outlook?
It finds Republicans in a tougher position than in 2018, with Trump's approval at record lows and Democrats leading the generic ballot by eight points.

What is Trump's approval on the economy?
The poll puts it at 27%, down 22 points from 2018.

Is the Democratic lead bigger than in 2018?
No. It is eight points, compared with 12 in CNN's September 2018 polling.

How reliable is the poll?
It surveyed 1,206 adults with a margin of error of ±3.5 points. Polls can shift quickly, so it's best read alongside other surveys.

Bottom line

The CNN/SSRS poll depicts a difficult environment for Republicans: weak economic ratings, softer intensity among their own voters, and a more motivated opposition. But it also shows voters are wary of both sides, and the outcome will depend on how conditions and campaigns develop in the weeks ahead.

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Suggested internal links: 2026 midterm election calendar, Trump approval rating tracker, how tariffs affect consumer prices.

Suggested image alt text: "Chart of CNN poll results showing Trump economic approval at 27 percent, September 2026"