A majority of American voters believe President Donald Trump’s involvement in the 2026 midterm election campaign is damaging the Republican Party’s chances, according to the latest Daily Mail/Ipsos poll.
The survey found that 55 per cent of registered voters believe Trump is hurting the party’s prospects, while only 20 per cent said his efforts were helping Republicans.
Among Republican voters, fewer than half, 48 per cent, believe the president is helping their party’s campaign. Meanwhile, 21 per cent said he was making its electoral prospects worse.
Independent voters expressed even stronger opposition, with 60 per cent saying Trump’s involvement was hurting Republican candidates.
Trump Holds Campaign Events Across More Than Two Dozen States
The president has spent months campaigning for Republican candidates, visiting more than two dozen states and participating in at least two dozen events since launching his midterm campaign blitz in September.
Although Trump is not personally seeking re-election in Tuesday’s vote, he has repeatedly encouraged Americans to participate with the same enthusiasm they would demonstrate if his own name appeared on the ballot.
However, the latest polling suggests that his efforts have not translated into widespread confidence among voters about the Republican Party’s electoral prospects.
Voters Predict Democratic Gains in Congress
The survey also found that more registered voters expect Democrats to make gains in the House of Representatives than Republicans.
Forty-eight per cent expect Democrats to win additional House seats, compared with 24 per cent who believe Republicans will increase their representation.
Even among Republican voters, 15 per cent expect Democrats to make gains in the House.
The figures also favour Democrats in the Senate, where 43 per cent of registered voters anticipate Democratic gains, compared with 26 per cent who expect Republicans to advance.
Democratic Control Could Bring Challenges for Trump
A Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress would require Trump to negotiate with opposition lawmakers to secure support for his legislative agenda.
It could also give Democrats the opportunity to launch investigations into the president, members of his administration, advisers and family.
Several Democratic politicians have already publicly discussed the possibility of pursuing investigations if their party regains control of Congress.
Democrats Report Greater Election Enthusiasm
The poll identified a considerable difference in enthusiasm between Democratic and Republican voters ahead of Election Day.
Fifty-six per cent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2026 election than previous elections.
The figure was considerably lower among Republicans, at 37 per cent, while just 28 per cent of independent voters reported increased enthusiasm.
Independents were also the most likely group to say they were less enthusiastic about voting, with 22 per cent expressing that position.
Economy and Corruption Dominate Voters’ Concerns
Economic pressures emerged as the leading issue influencing voters’ decisions ahead of Tuesday’s elections.
Forty-five per cent of respondents identified the economy and the cost of living as the most important factors determining how they would vote.
Corruption ranked second, receiving 16 per cent, followed by democratic values and norms at 15 per cent. Immigration was identified as the leading concern by nine per cent.
Voters Express Concerns About Election Integrity
The survey also revealed widespread concern about the possibility of interference with election results.
Among registered voters, 63 per cent said they were concerned that the results could be tampered with.
The concern was shared across party lines, with 68 per cent of Democrats and 66 per cent of Republicans expressing similar fears.
Republican Strongholds Face Competitive Races
Republicans are also facing challenges in states traditionally considered strongholds for the party.
Polling conducted over the past month has indicated increasingly competitive races in Texas, Alaska, Kansas and Mississippi, raising the possibility of Democratic gains in areas where Republicans have historically performed strongly.
Trump has visited each of the four states as part of his campaign efforts to support Republican candidates.
The election results will determine whether his appearances and campaign activities have helped limit anticipated Republican losses or whether Democrats will make further gains.
Survey Details
The Daily Mail/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,021 American adults, including 810 registered voters, between October 30 and November 1.
The margin of error for registered voters was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Trump had acknowledged the possibility of Republican losses in the midterm elections as far back as late last year, when he publicly noted that the party holding the presidency typically faces setbacks in midterm contests.
The latest survey indicates that most voters believe his involvement has further weakened the Republican Party’s position ahead of Election Day.
