New Polls Show Economic Frustration Tests Trump's Standing with Voters

New polling data indicates economic frustration is testing President Donald Trump's standing with key voter blocs.

An Associated Press-KFF poll finds about half of rural American voters believe the economy is worse off now than when Trump returned to office. These voters, historically instrumental for Trump and Republicans, cite costs of groceries, gas, and healthcare as top pain points. Rural Americans are more likely than voters overall to worry about affording these necessities.

While about half of rural voters approve of Trump's overall job performance, only 40% approve of his handling of the economy. Three-quarters of rural voters rated the cost of living in their communities as only fair or poor, a 25-percentage-point increase from similar polling in 2017. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals that 45% of registered voters say their vote for Congress is a vote against Trump.

This sentiment includes roughly four in five Democrats and about half of independents. Conversely, about a quarter of voters intend their vote to support the president, including 59% of Republicans and 51% of those who voted for Trump in 2024. Overall, this poll shows voters prefer Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by a 53-to-41 margin, a 13-point swing from Trump's 2024 popular-vote margin.

Trump's approval rating stands at 39%, with 53% disapproval, marking the highest share of strong disapproval since the question was first asked in 2017. Young voters who supported Trump in 2024 are now disaffected, showing declining support for Republicans.