Voters favor Democrats in midterms

The race for Congress has tightened slightly in the final weeks before the November 3 election, according to a new national survey. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday found that registered voters prefer Democratic candidates for Congress by a margin of 9 percentage points when undecided voters are factored into the count. This represents a slight narrowing from the previous week's results, where the gap was 11 points.

The survey reveals a complex landscape for President Donald Trump as he enters the final two years of his second term. While his personal approval rating rose to 32%, up one point from the previous week's low, his party faces challenges in retaining its majorities. If Republicans lose control of either chamber of Congress, implementing the president's agenda could become more difficult. The House race appears more favorable for Democrats, who are seen as having a good chance of winning that chamber.

Economic concerns drive much of the voter sentiment, particularly regarding inflation. Since the military strikes on Iran in February, which raised gasoline prices, 73% of polled voters stated that their cost of living is heading in the wrong direction. This shift has reversed earlier trends where voters preferred Republicans as stewards of the economy. In the latest data, 37% of voters said Democrats have a better approach to the economy, compared to 33% who favored Republicans.

Participation levels also differ between the two parties, with Democrats showing higher enthusiasm for the upcoming vote. The poll indicates that 46% of Democratic voters are very excited about the midterms, while only 30% of Republican voters share that level of enthusiasm. Among those most likely to cast a ballot, Democrats hold a 9-point advantage over Republicans on the generic ballot question.

The survey was conducted online and included 1,679 US adults, with 1,280 registered voters participating. The margin of error for registered voters is 3 percentage points. While these national figures provide a snapshot of public sentiment, they do not fully account for the district-specific contests that determine the final makeup of the House and Senate, areas where Republicans currently hold structural advantages.