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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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New congressional polling shows Republicans narrowing the gap with Democrats even as President Donald Trump’s approval rating sinks to fresh second-term lows.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in a statement, “What matters most to the American people is having a Commander-in-Chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump did with the successful Operation Epic Fury.”
Republican National Committee (RNC) National Press Secretary, Kiersten Pels, told Newsweek: “President Trump’s agenda has lowered drug prices and inflation, secured the border, exposed Democrat-enabled fraud, and put more money back in Americans’ pockets. Voters know Republicans offer policies and leadership that put Americans first and deliver results. Democrats, meanwhile, are running on nothing but Trump Derangement Syndrome and America hatred, so it’s no surprise their poll numbers are in the gutter.”
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Why It Matters
U.S. midterm dynamics are shifting against the backdrop of heightened global tensions, including the Iran war, alongside persistent domestic unease that is weighing on the president’s standing.
While Trump’s approval has slid, early indicators suggest Republicans may be stabilizing their position ahead of the 2026 elections.
What To Know
Recent polling points to a modest improvement for Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, even as Democrats retain an overall edge.
In a The Economist/YouGov poll conducted March 27—30, 2026, based on a sample of 1,679 U.S. adult citizens with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, voters were asked who they would support if elections for Congress were held today.
The survey found 39 percent backing the Democratic Party’s candidate and 33 percent supporting the Republican candidate.
Another 2 percent said they would vote for a different option, 12 percent were unsure and 15 percent said they would not vote.
A follow-up Economist/YouGov poll fielded April 3—6, 2026, surveying 1,750 U.S. adult citizens, showed Republicans closing the gap.
In that poll, 38 percent said they would vote for a Democratic candidate, while 36 percent favored the Republican candidate.
Support for other candidates remained at 2 percent, with 10 percent undecided and 14 percent saying they would not vote.
Compared with the late-March survey, Republican support rose by three percentage points.
While Democrats continue to lead in both polls, the narrower margin in the April survey suggests incremental movement toward the GOP at a time when the party is seeking momentum ahead of the midterms.
Broader polling averages still show Democrats with a clearer advantage.
Real Clear Polling’s aggregate of surveys on the 2026 Generic Congressional Vote put Democrats at 47.5 percent and Republicans at 41.8 percent at the time of writing, underscoring that the opposition party remains ahead nationally despite recent Republican gains.
These shifts are unfolding as Trump’s approval rating remains underwater and continues to hit new second-term lows across multiple issues, creating a mixed political environment for his party.
What Is Trump’s Approval Rating?
Aggregated polling paints a bleak picture for the president.
According to RealClear Polling’s approval rating average, Trump stands at 41.4 percent approval versus 56.1 percent disapproval, giving him a net approval of minus 14.7 percentage points.
A separate CNN poll of polls places his numbers even lower, with 37 percent approving and 61 percent disapproving, a net approval of minus 24 points.
Tracking from The Economist also shows Trump in negative territory.
Its approval tracker lists the president at a net approval of minus 19, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous week, with 37 percent approving, 56 percent disapproving and 7 percent unsure.
Taken together, the data show Trump struggling to win over a majority of voters even as his party shows signs of modest recovery in congressional preference polling.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in a statement: “What matters most to the American people is having a Commander-in-Chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump did with the successful Operation Epic Fury.
“President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes. The President does not make these incredibly important national security decisions based on fluid opinion polls, but on the best interest of the American people.”
What Happens Next
With midterms still months away, future polling will test whether Republicans can build on recent gains or whether presidential approval continues to drag on the party’s prospects.
Update 04/08/26, 12:35 p.m. ET. This article was updated with comment from the RNC and the White House.
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