NBC Poll: Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low in Second Term, Democrats Lead by 9 Points in Congressional Support

According to the latest average polling data from NBC News, in a survey on preferences for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, the Democratic Party leads the Republican Party by 9 percentage points, at 52% to 43% — the largest lead recorded in this polling cycle. NBC News stated that the two parties were roughly even in the first weeks following Trump’s return to the White House, but since then, independent voters’ preference for a Democratic-controlled Congress has gradually risen, while support for President Trump and his economic policies has declined. The polling average is adjusted using the "likely voter" metric, measuring which party voters favor to control Congress, and does not yet factor in specific districts or individual candidates. NBC News explained that the average aggregates public polls that meet methodological and transparency standards, applying weighting to mitigate the impact of fluctuations and outliers from individual surveys. Meanwhile, NBC News noted that Trump’s current approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since his second presidential term.