Polls Show Trump Less Popular Than His Party Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Polling released this one outlet's shows Donald Trump lagging behind the Republican Party in overall favorability, with 66% of respondents rating him unfavorably versus 52% for the GOP. During one outlet's interview with Trey Gowdy, Trump asserted that a segment of voters likes him more than the party, a statement analysts label as "flat-out wrong" based on the numbers. Historical data indicates that presidents whose approval sits in the 30s typically see their parties suffer significant midterm defeats, a pattern echoed in a July poll where 40% of voters said they would cast a ballot to oppose Trump.

By contrast, only 18% expressed a desire to support him. The analysis also notes that while congressional Republicans may outperform expectations given Trump’s low ratings, the party’s broader woes are unlikely to be blamed on the GOP itself. Overall, the polling suggests the upcoming midterms will serve as a referendum on Trump rather than on the Republican brand.