A recent poll indicates that registered voters favor Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives by a margin of three percentage points, despite President Donald Trump's low approval ratings. According to the Washington Post-Ipsos survey released on July 18, 2026, 48% of registered voters stated they would vote for the Democratic candidate, while 45% indicated support for the Republican candidate in their district.
Trump's approval rating has declined, with only 40% of registered voters approving of his job performance. Concerns regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on domestic prices have contributed to this decline. The poll suggests that voters differentiate between Trump's economic management and the broader Republican economic policies, with 39% trusting Republicans to handle the economy better compared to 35% for Democrats.
In terms of party representation, the Republican Party received slightly higher scores than the Democratic Party when voters were asked which party they agree with more on important issues. However, Democrats were perceived as more concerned with the needs of individuals.
The poll results come after recent primary victories by socialist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, indicating a potential shift in the Democratic Party's direction. Some party figures have expressed opposition to socialist candidates, while others support their growing influence.
The poll was conducted online from July 8-13 among 2,092 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. In May, Democrats had a 5 percentage-point lead over Republicans in a similar poll.