Voters Punish GOP Over Economy, but Democrats May Still Have a Problem, Exit Polls Find

Voters were more dissatisfied with the state of the economy in 2026 than they were in 2024, according to exit polling.

While punishing the party in power was the antidote to that on Tuesday, most voters said they didn’t necessarily trust Democrats to handle key issues more than Republicans, as both parties had low approval ratings.

A CBS News exit poll found voters were angrier and had a more negative view of the economy than in 2024, when President Donald Trump won largely on voter confidence that he would repair the sagging economy.

The blue wave may not have been as much an expression of unhappiness or an endorsement of Democratic policies as it was anti-incumbent, even as deep red areas shifted blue.

The CBS poll showed that about 20% who voted for Democrats in House races had an unfavorable view of the party. Democrats had a 54% unfavorable rating and 46% favorable, not much better than 59% unfavorable for Republicans and 41% favorable, according to the CBS poll.

The CBS poll found that 38% were “angry” about the economy and 37% were “disatisfied.” Another 18% said they were “satisfied,” while 7% said they were “enthusiastic.”

In a year when Democrats campaigned heavily on affordability, voters were also more than twice as likely to say their finances were worse off, and voters across party lines worried about affording gas and groceries, the CBS poll found. One in five even described their financial hardship as severe.

Compared to two years ago, 44% of Americans said their financial situation was worse, 38% said it was about the same, and 18% said it was better.

An Associated Press exit poll found half the voters said cost of living and corruption in government were “crucial.” Half of those concerned about corruption voted Democratic in House races, while four in 10 voted Republican.

The AP exit poll found that four in 10 voters wanted “to express opposition” to President Donald Trump, another four in 10 said the president wasn’t a factor, while two in 10 voters wanted “to express support” for Trump.

The AP poll found Democrats had only a “small advantage” in their perceived ability to handle the issues of the economy and government corruption.

The same poll found four in 10 identified the economy as their top concern, while another three in 10 said the state of democracy was the top concern. In a turnaround from 2024, just one in 10 identified immigration or healthcare. Fewer named foreign policy or crime.

Republicans lost significant ground from two years earlier, when Trump won almost half of the youth vote and about 40% of Hispanic voters.

The AP poll found about seven in 10 voters under 30 said they supported the House Democratic candidate, while about three in 10 said they voted for the Republican. About one-third of Hispanic voters supported a Republican House candidate.

An ABC News exit poll showed that white men, usually the most decisive Republican constituency, backed GOP candidates by only 55%. That’s compared with 62% in 2024 and 63% in 2022, the last midterm election.

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