Most Americans say Republicans in Congress are Prioritizing the Wrong Things

Nearly three-in-five Americans in the battleground say Republicans in Congress are prioritizing the wrong things (59% – prioritizing the wrong things), the highest share since Republicans seized control of both chambers of Congress. This includes 58% of Americans in battleground districts that President Trump won by more than 10 points in 2024 and 64% of independents.

Similarly, 60% of battleground constituents say that Republicans in Congress have focused more on non-economic issues compared to just 28% who say they’ve focused more on economic issues.

The top priority for Americans in the battleground is inflation and the cost of living (30% named a top two priority).

This underscores a consistent finding from Navigator that Americans do not think Trump and Republicans are focused on the right things.

Trump’s Net Approval Hit New Lows Among Battleground Americans

President Trump’s net approval fell another five points from -10 in February to -15 today. 57% of Americans in the battleground disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency, the lowest point Navigating the Battleground has tracked since he began his second term. Likewise, net approval of Trump’s handling of the economy is at a new low among Americans in the battleground: -17 approval (41% – approve, 58% – disapprove).

Among independents, Trump has a net -26 approval overall and a net -25 approval for his handling of the economy.

Americans in the Battleground are Unhappy With the Economy, and They Blame Republicans

More than two-thirds of Americans in the battleground view the economy negatively (68%) compared to just 32% who viewed it positively. This is the widest gap since Navigating the Battleground polled this question in February 2025 (25% positive – 74% negative).

People are seeing their own financial situations getting worse. In February 2026, the gap between those who said their own personal financial situations were positive versus negative was 22 points (60% positive – 38% negative). That gap has been cut in half to just 11 points (55% positive – 44% negative) as frustrations with the economy – and with Trump’s handling of it – have grown.

When asked who they blame for the economy, two-thirds (67%) say Trump and Republicans in Congress compared to just 24% who say Democrats in Congress.

Democratic incumbents in Congress have a net +3 approval among their constituents in the battleground (38% – approve, 35% – disapprove). Republican incumbents, on the other hand, have a net -19 approval among their battleground constituents (32% – approve, 51% – disapprove). Net approval for Democratic incumbents has nearly held steady from February 2025, when it was +2. For Republican incumbents, their net approval has fallen 16 points from -3 in February 2025. 

Americans in the battleground are split on whether or not they approve of Democratic incumbents’ handling of the economy (34% – approve, 34% – disapprove), a marginal improvement from February 2025 (34% – approve, 36% – disapprove). Republican incumbents have a net -21 approval on the economy among Americans in the battleground (29% – approve, 50% – disapprove), a drop of 21 points since February 2025.

Among independents, Democratic incumbents have a -2 net approval on the economy, compared -25 for Republican incumbents.

Americans in the Battleground are Split on Who They Trust to Stand Up for Them

Americans in the battleground are nearly split on whether they trust Democrats or Republicans more on key issues, including:

• Looking out for people like me (40% – trust Democrats more, 38% – trust Republicans more);
• Standing up to corruption (35% – trust Democrats more, 37% – trust Republicans more);
• Bringing needed change (35% – trust Democrats more, 37% – trust Republicans more); and
• Fixing a broken system in Washington (30% – trust Democrats more, 32% – trust Republicans more).

On all of these issues, at least one-in-five battleground constituents say they trust neither party. A majority of independents say they trust neither party on all of those issues.

Republicans continue to lead Democrats on getting things done (29% – trust Democrats more, 36% – trust Republicans more) and keeping people safe (37% – trust Democrats more, 44% – trust Republicans more), while Democrats lead on ensuring our food is safe (40% – trust Democrats more, 33% – trust Republicans more) and standing up to corporate special interests (32% – trust Democrats more, 26% – trust Republicans more).