Polls show Democratic midterm advantage as economic concerns weigh on Trump and Republicans

Several new polls show Democrats gaining an advantage ahead of the November midterm elections, as dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and concerns about living costs weigh on voters.

An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that Trump is a major factor in voters’ midterm preferences, with most respondents saying they want Democrats to win. Forbes also reported that Trump’s approval rating reached a new low in a third poll released this week.

An Emerson College Polling survey released Thursday put Democrats ahead of Republicans by 11 percentage points on the generic congressional ballot, 53% to 42%, according to The Hill.

Democrats also appear to be improving their standing among young men. Politico reported that a new poll found a growing Democratic lead within the group, whose members identified cost-of-living issues as their leading concern. The Hill cited a Cygnal survey in which likely male voters ages 18 to 30 were more inclined to support a Democratic congressional candidate than a Republican.

Economic frustration is also evident among rural voters, a constituency that has supported Trump and other Republicans in recent elections. An Associated Press-KFF poll of more than 2,000 rural registered voters found that about half believe the economy is worse than when Trump returned to office. Groceries, gasoline and health care were among their main financial concerns.