US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has remained at a record-low 32%, while Democrats hold an advantage over Republicans among voters ahead of next month’s midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The six-day survey found that Trump’s approval rating was unchanged from September, when it reached the lowest level recorded during his presidency. The latest poll was conducted online from September 30 to October 5 among 4,506 US adults.
The findings also showed a sharp decline in Trump’s support among Hispanic Americans. Only 24% of Hispanic respondents said they approved of his performance, marking the lowest level recorded during either of his presidential terms, according to the poll.
Democrats hold advantage ahead of midterms
Among registered voters, Democrats led Republicans by 44% to 37% in preference for the November 3 congressional elections.
The gap was wider among independent voters, with 37% favouring Democratic candidates compared with 21% who preferred Republicans. However, 28% of independent voters remained undecided.
Among Hispanic registered voters, Democrats held a 52% to 26% advantage over Republicans, representing the widest Democratic lead among the group since Trump returned to the White House, according to the survey.
The midterm elections will determine control of both chambers of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s current term.
Cost of living dominates voter concerns
The poll found that the cost of living remains the leading concern for voters as they consider their choices for November.
Rising fuel prices and broader inflation have increased pressure on household budgets. Reuters reported that the recent surge in energy prices has been linked to disruptions caused by the war involving Iran and other pressures on global energy markets.
Economic concerns have also affected Trump’s ratings on issues such as inflation and the cost of living in previous Reuters/Ipsos surveys.
Trump’s approval rating hits career low as economic concerns boost Democrats
Republican support among older voters narrows
The latest poll also showed a significant change among voters aged 50 and older, a demographic that has traditionally been important in midterm elections.
Voters in that age group preferred Republican candidates by only 44% to 42%, narrowing the Republican advantage to 2 percentage points. In December, Republicans held an 8-point advantage among voters aged 50 and older.
Among voters under 50, Democrats held an 18-point advantage.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey was based on a nationally representative probability sample of 4,506 US adults. Ipsos said the margin of sampling error for the full sample was approximately 1.5 percentage points, while margins are higher for smaller demographic groups.
The findings come as both parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, with the economy, fuel prices and the cost of living emerging as major issues for voters.
