Earlier this month, Americans gave Democrats the biggest majority in Congress in half a century. Navigator polled 3,000 midterm voters (compared to our normal samples of 1,000 registered voters) across the country to learn more about why they cast their ballots and what they’re looking for in their elected leaders. This report is the first in a series of findings from this survey.
Democrats Attracted Former Trump Voters and New Voters
More than one-in-10 (11%) were new Democratic voters. About half of this group (6% of all total voters) voted for Trump in 2024 and voted for a Democrat in 2026. The others (5% of all total voters) were those who either didn’t vote in 2024 or voted for a third-party candidate before voting Democrat in 2026.
Americans are Down on the Direction of the Country and Trump
As Americans cast their ballots, a majority say the country is not in a good place. Two-thirds (67%) of voters think the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, compared to just 33% who say the country is on the right track.
Voters are also disappointed and frustrated with President Trump. His net approval rating sits at -26 (37% approve – 63% disapprove), tying a record-low in Navigator tracking from October. Similarly, Trump’s economic approval also ties his record-low from October at -33 (33% approve – 66% disapprove).
Trump’s approval is soft even among those who voted for Republicans in the House of Representatives. While nearly nine-in-10 (88%) of those who voted for Democrats “strongly disapprove” of Trump, only 39% of those who voted Republican “strongly approve” of him. A quarter (26%) of those who voted Republican in the midterms explicitly said they were voting for the Republican, but not Trump.
Nearly Half Give Trump an F, With Many Citing the War in Iran, Costs, and Corruption for Failing Grades
When asked to grade the president, 45% give Trump an F two years into his second term. Half of independents (49%) and one-in-five (21%) non-MAGA Republicans give Trump an F. On average, Trump receives a D average (or a 1.48 GPA) from voters, slightly lower than when Navigator asked in January.
Among those who give Trump a C or below, the most-cited reasons are the war with Iran and the economy. Those who give Trump an F also cite corruption as a top reason.
Voters’ biggest concerns about Trump are how inflation and cost of living are going up under his watch (33%, including 31% who voted for a Republican in the House) and that he continues to be focused on the wrong things, like the White House ballroom (29%, including 23% who voted for a Republican in the House).
Many Trump Regretters Likely Stayed Home, But Some Turned Out for Democrats
In Navigator’s October survey of registered voters, one-in-four (25%) Trump 2024 voters said they regret their vote. In the exit poll, 16% of midterm voters report regretting their vote for Trump, suggesting that many Trump regretters stayed home this November, something many mentioned in focus groups:
Of those who did vote, a third (33%) voted for Democrats.
Democrats are More Popular Than Republicans
The Democratic Party and Democrats in Congress both have net-positive favorability at +5 (52% favorable – 47% unfavorable) and +4 (51% favorable – 47% unfavorable), respectively. These net favorabilities are more than 20 points above the Republican Party (-18, 40% favorable – 58% unfavorable) and Republicans in Congress (-23, 37% favorable – 60% unfavorable).
Similarly, leading Democratic (and in some cases independent) candidates had a net +13 favorability (52% favorable – 39% unfavorable) while Republicans were underwater by seven points (38% favorable – 45% unfavorable).
Many of the policies tied to and supported by Republicans – namely ICE, the Republican tax law, tariffs, and data centers – are toxic with voters.
