Voters deeply unhappy with Trump, in a mood for change, voter poll finds

Dissatisfaction shapes the midterms

Although Trump is not on the ballot, he has urged voters to treat Election Day as if it were a choice about him. The poll suggests the midterms are becoming a referendum on his first two years in office.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say they are angry or dissatisfied with the country’s direction. About six in 10 say high prices stem more from Trump’s policies than from factors outside his control, while roughly half say corruption and the cost of living are crucial to their congressional vote.

Parties weigh their chances

Democrats hope to win majorities in the House and Senate and constrain Trump’s authority after two years of limited resistance from a Republican-led Congress. Key gubernatorial contests are also being decided.

Competitive races and uncertainty

Trump is seeking to defy the usual midterm pattern, in which the president’s party loses congressional seats. Democrats are targeting more than 60 districts, including many Trump carried by double-digit margins, but redistricting and partisan divisions have limited the number of competitive races compared with some past elections.

Races in Pennsylvania, Florida and Virginia are among the early contests to watch. North Carolina Democrat Roy Cooper is favored to win an open seat, while Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is widely expected to win reelection; weaker-than-expected results for Democrats in either race could signal stronger Republican performance elsewhere.