Note: Results will continue to update throughout the night.
CBS News 2026 Midterm Election Exit Poll Preview
President Trump is on track to have the lowest approval rating for a president in some time. midterm electionaccording to the first exit polls. Currently at 38%, that rate is lower than Mr. Trump’s first term and that of George W. Bush in 2006, when his party lost both houses of Congress.
Midterm elections have often been a referendum on the sitting president, and this one is no exception. About six in 10 people say Mr. Trump is a factor in their vote in the House.
This trend is largely driven by voters’ support for Democrats, who are overwhelmingly motivated by their opposition to Mr. Trump.
But for those who support Republicans, it’s less about the president. In 2018, most Republican voters said their vote was to support Mr. Trump. This figure is lower today.
The president has often asked his supporters to pretend they’re on the ballot, and for many in the MAGA base, that may be exactly what they’re doing. Most MAGA Republicans say their vote is to support Mr. Trump, but most non-MAGA representatives say he is not a factor.
The mood of the electorate is sour
Voters just aren’t happy.
The latest exit polls show that about three-quarters of voters are at least dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking. More people are angry about the way things are going now than in 2024, when economic anxiety persists. Those who vote for Democrats are especially likely to be angry.
The issue of the economy and confidence in Mr. Trump to fix it helped propel him to victory in 2024, but voters don’t feel any better about the state of the economy today.
In fact, more voters have a negative view of the economy today than two years ago, and their view of the economy is more in line with what we saw in the 2022 midterm elections, when the ruling party lost seats.
Cost of living: voters are feeling the effects
Voters feel it in their wallets. They are more than twice as likely to say their finances are worse rather than better, according to early exit polls.
Voters across party lines are expressing concern about access to everything from gas to groceries to utilities.
In two straight elections, most voters said inflation had caused hardships for their families, with about one in five calling those hardships severe.
All of this makes the cost of living a major factor for voters of all parties, but it is most crucial for those who support Democrats. Immigration control is more crucial for those who support Republicans.
When voters are asked to choose their most important issue from a list, the economy comes out on top, followed by the state of democracy. Those who vote for Democrats prioritize the state of democracy – an issue that has long concerned them.
For those who support Republicans, the economy is the most important issue, followed by immigration.
Voters who choose the state of democracy as their priority are especially likely to say that government corruption is a crucial factor in their vote.
Government corruption: a major factor for voters of all parties
About nine in 10 voters nationally say government corruption is a major factor in their vote – about the same as the cost of living – and is crucial for those who vote for Democrats.
About six in ten voters believe President Trump puts personal interests ahead of the country.
The Iranian War
Even though the war with Iran weighs less on voters than the cost of living, the conflict is not popular. Most believe the United States made the wrong decision in launching this military action, including about a quarter of Republicans.
Those who worry most about buying gas are most likely to disagree with the decision to attack Iran.
Does all this discontent translate into satisfaction with the party driven from power?
Neither political party is viewed favorably by the majority of voters.
About one in five Democrats in the House of Representatives have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party. Most Democrats are motivated by their opposition to Mr. Trump.
And the Democratic Party is not widely seen as the party best suited to handle key issues.
Emerging Issues
Data centers have emerged as an issue in this campaign. Across every Senate battleground, majorities oppose building a data center in their community.
More and more voters believe that artificial intelligence does more to harm society than to help it.
Voter confidence
A large majority of voters are at least somewhat confident that their votes will be counted accurately, both nationally and in their own states, and that eligible voters will be allowed to cast ballots. But while they are confident that their votes will be counted, those who vote Republican are much less confident than those who vote Republican. not having the right to vote will not be able to vote.
This national exit poll measures the general preference of voters across the country in their choice for the House of Representatives. Of course, the House of Representatives is elected seat by seat.
A little word about states
Mr. Trump’s job approval is currently understated in almost every Senate battleground state, according to early exit polls, including states he won by double digits in 2024.
Across Senate battlegrounds, more and more people say their finances are worse, not better, than they were years ago.
And party control of the Senate was on voters’ minds. Majorities of those voting for Republican candidates and those voting for Democrats say the party that controls the Senate was a major factor in their vote.
The CBS News exit poll team surveyed thousands of voters across the country at polling places on Election Day and in the weeks leading up to Election Day. This is how the a voter survey was conducted.
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