The latest Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, released on October 18, 2026, paints a bleak picture for the Republican Party as the nation heads toward the midterm elections. President Donald Trump is recorded at a personal approval rating of just 33 percent, the lowest point of his two terms, while a solid 66 percent of respondents disapprove – a figure that eclipses even the backlash after the Jan. 6 Capitol assault.
Presidential rating hits an all-time trough
Among all adults, the approval/disapproval split sits at 37 percent and 63 percent respectively, but the gap widens among likely voters, where 52 percent express strong disapproval. Even within the GOP, the picture is sobering: 79 percent of Republicans still claim to approve of Trump, yet the share that strongly approves has slipped to a record-low 39 percent, while 21 percent of Republicans now openly disapprove. Notably, non-MAGA Republicans register a 47 percent disapproval rate, underscoring fractures inside the party.
Democrats take the lead in the generic House race
The same survey asked likely voters which party they would support in a hypothetical congressional-district contest. Democrats command a solid 52 percent versus 44 percent for Republicans – an eight-point edge that mirrors a similar margin among registered voters (50 percent to 42 percent). This marks a climb from a July poll that showed only a three-point gap. Among independents, the Democratic advantage widens to 21 points (56 percent to 35 percent).
Party loyalty remains high: 98 percent of Democratic likely voters plan to back their party’s candidate, while 96 percent of Republican likely voters do the same. However, enthusiasm gaps are evident. A larger share of Democrats (72 percent) says they are “absolutely certain” they will cast a ballot, compared with 65 percent of Republicans. Moreover, 44 percent of Democratic voters claim they are following the race “extremely” or “very” closely, versus just 31 percent of GOP supporters.
Economic distress fuels the shift
Cost-of-living concerns dominate respondents’ minds. A striking 71 percent label gasoline as “unaffordable,” up sharply from 28 percent earlier in the year after the Iran conflict spiked fuel prices. Gas has lingered above $4 per gallon for a record 158 days in 2026. Healthcare, home energy, and rent also rank high on the unaffordability list, with 65 percent, 57 percent, and 50 percent respectively calling those categories out of reach.
Beyond essentials, 61 percent say dining out is unaffordable, 69 percent deem a week-long vacation out of reach, and 80 percent view a new car as beyond their means. Overall, three-quarters of Americans evaluate the national economy negatively, and 48 percent feel they are “not as well off” as when Trump first entered office.
Voters who rate the economy poorly or feel financially worse off overwhelmingly favor Democrats in the generic ballot – by 72 points and 60 points respectively. Likewise, 72 percent of all respondents believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, reinforcing the narrative that economic anxiety is translating into political change.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric tries a fresh angle
Amid the waning numbers, the president recently turned to a more superficial appeal on the campaign trail. At a rally in Northern Kentucky University on October 17, he highlighted House candidate Ed Gallrein – a former Navy SEAL – praising his looks with the quip, “Look at this beautiful guy. Central casting.” The moment illustrates Trump’s attempt to shift attention toward candidate personalities as the broader party image struggles.
Overall, the polling data underscores a pivotal moment for U.S. politics: Democratic momentum is fueled by an electorate weary of high prices and skeptical of presidential leadership, while Republicans confront internal dissent and an unprecedented approval slump for their figurehead. With less than two weeks before voters head to the polls, the trends suggest the midterms could serve as a referendum on both economic policy and the Trump-led GOP agenda.
