--- title: "Politics. 10222026" description: "Politics A monthly digest of research on public attitudes on politics and major policy issues · Subscribe ↗ From our research The share of registered voters who say the economy is very important to their midterm vote. Read more" date: "2026-10-22" authors: - name: "Madelyn Bonkoski" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/campaign/politics-10222026/" --- # Politics. 10222026 --- October 22, 2026 ## Politics *A monthly digest of research on public attitudes on politics and major policy issues* · **[Subscribe ↗](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)** --- [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/with-americans-in-a-sour-mood-democratic-voters-are-more-engaged-in-midterms/) ## [With Americans in a Sour Mood, Democratic Voters Are More Engaged in Midterms](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/with-americans-in-a-sour-mood-democratic-voters-are-more-engaged-in-midterms/) The 2026 midterm elections are taking place amid [deep public dissatisfaction with the state of the nation](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/with-americans-in-a-sour-mood-democratic-voters-are-more-engaged-in-midterms/), near-record low approval ratings of President Donald Trump, and growing negativity about national economic conditions and the ongoing conflict with Iran. And while many registered voters will not turn out to vote this fall, Democratic candidates are buoyed by their supporters’ relatively high levels of engagement and stated motivation to vote when compared with voters who back Republican candidates. • Republican and Democratic voters differ over the importance of many issues, but [the economy tops both of their lists](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/economy-ranks-as-top-issue-in-midterms-for-all-voters-but-partisans-differ-over-the-importance-of-other-issues/). • 68% of Americans disapprove of [Trump’s handling of his job as president](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/trumps-approval-rating-drops-as-fewer-americans-are-confident-in-his-handling-of-the-economy-other-issues/). • 65% of Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling [U.S. military action in Iran](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/08/iran-conflict-remains-deeply-unpopular-as-many-americans-expect-it-to-go-on-for-months/). [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/20/broad-public-confidence-in-elections-in-the-u-s-but-partisans-differ-over-concerns-about-access-security/) ## [Broad Public Confidence in Elections in the U.S. – but Partisans Differ Over Concerns About Access, Security](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/20/broad-public-confidence-in-elections-in-the-u-s-but-partisans-differ-over-concerns-about-access-security/) American [voters expect the upcoming midterm elections](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/20/broad-public-confidence-in-elections-in-the-u-s-but-partisans-differ-over-concerns-about-access-security/) to be run and administered well, have confidence that election workers will handle ballots securely, and say the outcome will be clear after all the ballots are counted. There are wide partisan differences in perceptions of how secure elections are against noncitizens casting ballots, whether all legally qualified voters are able to cast ballots if they want to, and [views of mail-in or absentee voting](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/20/how-u-s-voters-view-mail-and-absentee-balloting/). [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/cost-concerns-dominate-as-publics-economic-ratings-turn-more-negative/) ## [Cost Concerns Dominate as Public’s Economic Ratings Turn More Negative](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/cost-concerns-dominate-as-publics-economic-ratings-turn-more-negative/) The costs of many household essentials are a [top economic concern](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/cost-concerns-dominate-as-publics-economic-ratings-turn-more-negative/) for most Americans – one of the biggest being the cost of gas and energy. • Most Americans see [Donald Trump’s economic policies](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/cost-concerns-dominate-as-publics-economic-ratings-turn-more-negative/#what-has-the-impact-of-trumps-economic-policies-been) as hurting the economy: 65% say they have made things worse. [ ](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/10/16/how-latino-voters-are-experiencing-the-2026-midterm-elections/) ## [How Latino Voters Are Experiencing the 2026 Midterm Elections](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/10/16/how-latino-voters-are-experiencing-the-2026-midterm-elections/) For Latino voters, the [economy is the top issue](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/10/16/the-economy-is-the-top-issue-for-latino-voters-in-the-2026-midterms/) on their minds in the upcoming congressional elections. 53% of [Latino registered voters have a favorable opinion](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/10/16/latino-registered-voters-see-the-democratic-party-more-favorably-than-the-republican-party/) of the Democratic Party, compared with 29% who have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party. ## [Majority of Americans Expect Democrats to Win Control of House; Public Is Split on Senate](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/15/majority-of-americans-expect-democrats-to-win-control-of-house-public-is-split-on-senate/) ## [Americans’ Views of Economic Inequality, Its Causes and Who Should Fix It](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2026/10/14/americans-views-of-economic-inequality-its-causes-and-who-should-fix-it/) ## [Many Americans Are Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/14/many-americans-are-struggling-to-afford-basic-necessities/) ## [Quiz: What Is Your Civic Personality?](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/quiz/what-is-your-civic-personality/) ## [So Far, the 119th Congress Is Among the Least Productive of the Past 40 Years](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/15/so-far-the-119th-congress-is-among-the-least-productive-of-the-past-40-years/) ## [Religious Groups Differ Widely in Their 2026 Midterm Preferences](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/13/religious-groups-differ-widely-in-their-2026-midterm-preferences/) ## [Why Americans Identify as Republicans and Democrats – and Why They Don’t](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/02/why-americans-identify-as-republicans-and-democrats-and-why-they-dont/) ## [Pace of Trump’s Judicial Appointments Has Slowed in His Second Term](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/21/pace-of-trumps-judicial-appointments-has-slowed-in-his-second-term/) #### From our research [84%](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/with-americans-in-a-sour-mood-democratic-voters-are-more-engaged-in-midterms/) The share of registered voters who say the economy is very important to their midterm vote. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/10/08/with-americans-in-a-sour-mood-democratic-voters-are-more-engaged-in-midterms/)