Trump Approval Ticks Up to 32%, Democrats Lead Republicans by 11 Points Ahead of Midterms

President Donald Trump’s job approval rating edged up from a record low, but Democrats maintained a lead over Republicans in party support ahead of the midterm elections.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Oct. 26 showed Trump’s approval rating at 32%, up 1 percentage point from last week’s low.

Asked which party they would support in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, 47% of registered voters chose Democrats and 36% picked Republicans. The gap between the two parties was 11 percentage points, down 1 point from a survey completed on Oct. 19. Another 11% said they were undecided.

When undecided voters’ leanings were taken into account, Democrats led 50% to 41%, narrowing the gap to 9 percentage points. Among voters most likely to cast ballots, Democrats also held a 9-point lead, with 53% support versus 44% for Republicans. Still, nationwide polling may differ from the eventual seat outcome because it does not capture the dynamics of individual districts.

Inflation emerged as a key variable in the election. Energy prices have risen since the U.S. airstrike on Iran in February, adding to pressure on household budgets. Some 73% of respondents said the cost of living was moving in the wrong direction.

Democrats also led Republicans on trust in economic policy. Some 37% of respondents said Democrats were better equipped to handle economic issues, compared with 33% for Republicans. That marked a shift from polling before the Iran war, when Republicans had held the edge on economic management.

The gap was also evident in voter enthusiasm. Among Democratic supporters, 46% said they were highly motivated to vote in the midterms, compared with 30% of Republican supporters.

The online survey was conducted among 1,679 U.S. adults, including 1,280 registered voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 2 percentage points for all adults and 3 percentage points for registered voters.