With the November midterm elections rapidly approaching, a newly released Economist/YouGov poll shows Republicans drawing within striking distance of Democrats in the battle for Congress.
The national survey, conducted between June 13 and June 15, 2026, reveals that 39% of registered voters plan to support the Democratic candidate in their district, while 36% favor the Republican candidate.
This narrow three-point margin places the generic congressional race well within the poll’s 3.5% margin of error, signaling a highly competitive electoral landscape. Another 9% of respondents remain unsure of their choice, while 15% state they do not plan to vote at all.
The tightening congressional race comes amid widespread voter dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation.
According to the data, 61% of Americans believe the country is off on the wrong track, compared to just 29% who feel it is headed in the right direction. Furthermore, a solid 66% majority explicitly described things in the United States today as “out of control,” while only 19% view the country as “under control.”
Economic anxiety appears to be a primary driver of this pessimistic public mood. The poll highlights that 71% of citizens rate the American economy as either fair or poor, and 57% believe economic conditions are actively getting worse. When asked to name their highest-priority issue, 31% of respondents chose inflation and prices, making it the top concern nationwide. Jobs and the economy followed as the second most critical issue for 15% of those surveyed.
Beyond domestic and economic concerns, international conflicts are weighing heavily on the electorate. The ongoing war in Iran is a major point of focus, with 65% of Americans stating that the U.S. should make a deal to end the war “as quickly as possible.” Public opinion remains divided on the timeline of the conflict, as 49% expect the war to last between a month and a year, while 33% predict it will drag on for a year or more.
The poll also tracked current sentiment surrounding Donald Trump, whose job approval rating sits at 39%, with 56% of respondents disapproving of his performance. The survey measured public reaction to Trump’s recent assertions regarding the political system, specifically his claims that the primary elections in California are being rigged. The data shows that 67% of respondents believe Trump is “just trying to sow doubt in the legitimacy of the election,” while 33% believe he has “concrete evidence to back up his claims.”
Conducted via web-based interviews, the Economist/YouGov poll sampled 1,549 U.S. adult citizens, including 1,403 registered voters. The final sample was weighted to match national demographic distributions for age, gender, race, education, and previous voter turnout.
READ: Leaked 14-Point Draft Reveals Massive US-Iran Deal: End To War, Sanctions Relief, And $300B Aid Plan
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