Congress Losing Support From Voters
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, a new national poll reveals growing frustration with Congress, as Americans express historically low confidence in their elected representatives.
According to a Gallup survey released Wednesday, just 43% of registered voters believe their own representative in Congress deserves another term. Even fewer, only 15%, believe most members of Congress should be reelected.
The findings represent a troubling development for lawmakers hoping to keep their jobs when voters head to the polls on November 3.
Gallup reported that this is the first time since it began tracking the question before midterm elections in 1994 that fewer than half of registered voters have supported reelection for their own congressional representative.
Previously, that figure had ranged from 50% to 69%.
Congressional Approval Hits Historic Low
The survey also found that Congress has an approval rating of just 14%, its lowest reading immediately before a midterm election since Gallup began tracking congressional approval in 1974.
The dissatisfaction extends across party lines, although Republicans remain more supportive of Congress than Democrats.
Among Republican voters, 51% believe their own representative deserves reelection, compared with 45% of Democrats and 36% of independents.
When asked whether most members of Congress deserve another term, 29% of Republicans agreed. Only 11% of Democrats and 9% of independents shared that opinion.
Republican approval of Congress has also declined considerably since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Gallup found that 29% of Republicans currently approve of Congress, compared with 53% in February 2025. Meanwhile, congressional approval stands at just 4% among Democrats and 13% among independents.
The numbers suggest that frustration with Washington is not limited to one political party.
Economic Concerns Weigh Heavily On Americans
The poll also highlighted widespread concerns about the economy and the direction of the country.
A combined 38% of Americans identified an economic issue as the nation’s most important problem, including inflation, the cost of living, general economic conditions and gasoline prices.
Another 26% identified government or poor leadership as the country’s biggest concern.
Only 19% of respondents described current economic conditions as excellent or good, while 48% rated them as poor.
Americans also expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the nation’s overall direction.
According to Gallup, just 23% said they were satisfied with how things were going in the United States, while 75% expressed dissatisfaction.
These findings underscore the challenges facing elected officials as Americans continue to evaluate their economic circumstances and the performance of their government.
Midterm Elections Could Bring Major Changes
The unfavorable polling numbers come at a critical time for Republicans, who are defending their narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
Historically, the president’s party has faced difficulties during midterm elections.
Gallup noted that the party occupying the White House has lost House seats in 11 of the 13 midterm elections held since 1974.
In each of the nine midterm elections during which congressional approval fell below 30%, the president’s party lost seats in the House.
However, the size of those losses has varied substantially, meaning the current polling numbers do not guarantee a particular election outcome.
For Republicans, retaining control of the House will be important to President Trump’s ability to advance his legislative priorities during the remaining two years of his term.
Democrats, meanwhile, are seeking to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Washington as they attempt to regain control of the chamber.
The latest Gallup findings suggest that incumbents from both parties could face difficult questions from voters about their records, government spending, economic conditions and whether Washington is delivering meaningful results.
With Election Day approaching, the central question is whether growing frustration with Congress will translate into significant changes at the ballot box.
For now, the message from voters appears clear: Many Americans are dissatisfied with their elected representatives, and a growing number are questioning whether those already serving in Washington deserve another term.
