Voters came in unhappy with the president. A national voter poll found about 60% disapprove of Donald Trump's job performance, and nearly half of those say they disapprove strongly. About one-fifth of people who voted for Trump in 2024 now disapprove. Approval figures vary with the pollster and the question. A survey of about 100,000 voters put it at 38%, below the 45% recorded in the 2018 midterms. Other surveys put overall approval between 30% and 32%, and one found his approval on the economy at 32%, with 66% disapproving.

The mood was sour well beyond Trump. About three-quarters of voters are dissatisfied with the direction of the country, and nearly 40% describe themselves as angry. More than 40% say their family's financial situation is worse than two years ago. Estimates of how many voters treated the cost of living as a major factor ranged from about half to 90%. About two-thirds of voters say Trump has made economic conditions worse, and a separate survey found 65% of US adults blame his policies for persistently high costs. Gasoline averaged over $4 a gallon on Tuesday, against $2.98 when the Iran conflict began. Several analyses tie higher fuel prices to the war and to Trump's tariffs. Pedro Sanchez of California and Bethany Lnenicka of Iowa both pointed to rising grocery and gas prices in explaining their disappointment with the administration.

The broader numbers are mixed. The economy grew at an annualized 3.4% last quarter, unemployment was 4.2% in September, and weekly jobless claims are near a 57-year low, with AI investment driving growth. Consumer prices and average hourly earnings have each risen about 5.5% since Trump took office in January 2025, which leaves workers with little gain in purchasing power. Consumer sentiment is near a record low, and mortgage rates above 7% have made buying a home harder. Economists warn that higher oil prices, tariffs and immigration restrictions could produce stagflation, and they say the economy has not entered a downturn.

Neither party has a clear hold on the issue. Voters favored Democrats over Republicans as better economic managers by 37% to 33%, and about one-fifth trusted neither party. Democratic enthusiasm stood at 46%, against 30% for Republicans. Seventy-one percent of voters said Congress is not doing enough to act as a check on the presidency. "We need a check on the President. We need two Houses of Congress," one voter in Queens, New York, said. Anita Jain, a Democratic district leader there, said, "America is sick right now."

Republicans still held surprise leads in some red states. In Texas, Ken Paxton, whom Trump endorsed over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, was predicted to hold the GOP Senate seat. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of potential Republican losses in the state's governor and Senate races. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said 1.2 million ballots had been cast, short of the 1.5 million Republicans needed to overcome slow early voting.

Voting had its own troubles. Technical problems in Westchester County, New York, affected up to 250,000 ballots, and Rep. Mike Lawler expected results to be delayed into the early hours of Wednesday. North Carolina extended voting to 8:15 p.m. Eastern after minor disruptions. South Carolina passed its previous record for midterm turnout, and Iowa expected record participation. Vandals painted Sen. Susan Collins' office in Maine with red paint and the words "Blood On Her Hands." In Alaska, the Trump administration sent letters to at least 20 Democrats saying they are targets in a criminal investigation tied to the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan.

A Democratic House is expected to investigate Trump's business dealings, including growth in his net worth of at least $2.7 billion since his second election, driven by cryptocurrency ventures. California voters also decided Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on about 260 billionaires that could raise $31.5 billion from the state's 10 wealthiest alone.