Early Exit Polls Show Economic Discontent, Low Trump Approval

Preliminary exit-poll results from the 2026 midterm elections showed widespread dissatisfaction with the economy and President Donald Trump, with many voters saying his policies worsened economic conditions and he was responsible for high prices. The surveys describe voters’ responses, not election results, and the NBC figures were still being updated as interviews arrived. The early NBC News Exit Poll found that 38% of voters approved of Trump’s job performance and 62% disapproved. In 2018, during his first midterm election, 45% approved. The poll also found that 43% said opposition to Trump was one reason they voted, while 16% cited support for him as a reason. On economic questions, 62% of respondents in the NBC poll said Trump was responsible for high prices, and 65% said his policies had made the economy worse. About three-quarters said the national economy was in rough shape. The poll put the economy first among voters’ top issues, at 39%, followed by democracy at 32%. A separate Associated Press exit poll likewise found that about four in 10 voters named the economy as their top issue and about three in 10 named democracy. Roughly three-quarters said they were angry or...