Trump Holds Negative Approval in 39 States on Election Day

President Donald Trump faces declining political support across much of the United States as voters cast ballots in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. New polling shows negative net approval in 39 states and every major battleground, raising questions about Republican prospects in congressional races.

According to Civiqs' rolling tracker of registered voters, 33 percent of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, while 60 percent disapprove. His national net approval rating stands at minus 27 points.

The figures are based on 140,354 responses collected between January 20, 2025, and November 2, 2026. Newsweek compared the latest state-level results with ratings recorded when Trump began his second presidential term.

Costas Panagopoulos, a distinguished professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek that midterm outcomes are closely connected to presidential approval.

Midterm elections provide voters with an opportunity to evaluate the administration's performance during its first two years.

"In many ways, midterms are referenda on incumbent party performance," Panagopoulos said.

Trump's campaign appearances may strengthen Republican participation, but their ability to attract undecided voters remains limited, according to Panagopoulos.

"The rallies will likely do little to persuade voters because most voters who either attend them or are exposed to them in some ways already have fixed predispositions about the president," Panagopoulos said.

He added that rallies could encourage committed supporters to vote, donate, volunteer, and persuade others to participate.

Assessing Trump's influence on congressional contests, Panagopoulos described the available evidence as "mixed at best."

He also warned that presidential involvement could be ineffective or counterproductive for certain Republican candidates.

National political issues increasingly influence congressional elections, sometimes outweighing local considerations. Panagopoulos said this creates difficulties for Republicans because their party controls both the presidency and Congress.

"If voters are unhappy, they know where to lay the blame," Panagopoulos said.

The White House defended Trump's political leadership and highlighted his administration's policy record. Spokesman Davis Ingle described the president as the central figure in the Republican Party.

"Unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator," Ingle said, describing Trump's position within the GOP.

Ingle said Trump remained committed to protecting Republican majorities in Congress. He cited tax cuts, prescription-drug costs, border security, energy production, private-sector employment, and retirement accounts as evidence of the administration's achievements.

Ingle characterized the election as a choice between Trump's "winning, commonsense agenda" and what he called Democrats' "extreme liberal policies and obstruction."

Trump retains substantial support among Republican voters, with 78 percent approving of his performance and 12 percent disapproving, according to the polling data.

His strongest state-level approval rating comes from Wyoming, where net approval stands at plus 18 points. North Dakota follows at plus 12, Arkansas at plus 8, West Virginia at plus 6, and Oklahoma at plus 3.

Alabama, Utah, Idaho, and Montana each record positive net approval of plus 2. Kansas and South Dakota are evenly divided between approval and disapproval.

However, every state recorded a decline in Trump's net approval compared with January 20, 2025. Kentucky experienced the largest drop, falling 38 points from plus 23 to minus 15.

Other substantial declines include Idaho, down 32 points; Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming, each down 29 points; and Oklahoma, down 28 points.

Ohio declined 27 points, Iowa and South Dakota each fell 26 points, while Nevada and Texas recorded decreases of 25 points.

All nine major battleground states now have negative net approval ratings for Trump. Arizona stands at minus 18, Florida at minus 15, Georgia at minus 24, Michigan at minus 26, Nevada at minus 25, North Carolina at minus 18, Ohio at minus 19, Pennsylvania at minus 23, and Wisconsin at minus 23.

Age and gender also show significant differences in presidential approval. Among voters aged 18 to 34, only 21 percent approve of Trump, compared with 72 percent who disapprove.

For voters aged 35 to 49, approval stands at 26 percent and disapproval at 65 percent. Among those aged 50 to 64, the figures are 42 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Voters aged 65 and older record 43 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval.

Women disapprove of Trump's performance by 66 percent to 28 percent, while men register 54 percent disapproval and 39 percent approval.

Educational background also reflects differences in support. Approval reaches 24 percent among postgraduate voters, 31 percent among college graduates, and 36 percent among people without college degrees. Disapproval leads in all three groups.