🕒 The latest on Trump’s approval rating
Updated October 22, 2026
Once again Donald Trump is down to a new all-time net approval low of -24.3. That’s a two-point drop from last week, thanks to some truly eye watering recent polls:
NYT/Siena: net -26
American Research group: -38
Verasight/Strength in Numbers: -28
CNN/SSRS: -35
Reuters/Ipsos: -35
According to the New York Times, Trump has the second lowest approval rating heading into the midterms since 1946, behind only Harry Truman. -EMD, 10/21/26
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🕒 The latest on the generic ballot
Updated October 22, 2026
Democrats’ surge in the polls that started in early September leveled off for a short time, but they’re now back on the upswing. As of today, their lead on the generic congressional ballot is sitting at D +9.2. That’s a new all-time high for the 2026 cycle.
We post a different version of our generic ballot average on our midterm election forecast page. It applies a likely voter adjustment, which in this case benefits Democrats and moves their lead from D +9.2 to D +9.7. -EMD, 10/21/26