Midterm results: Americans get tired of president, 'vote out' Republicans

The economic situation emerged as major factor behind the Republican setback

US voters have delivered a sweeping rebuke to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, turning the 2026 midterm elections into a referendum on his leadership, economic policies and handling of the country.

Democrats wrested control of both chambers of Congress, making historic gains in traditionally Republican strongholds as an angry electorate appeared increasingly unwilling to give Trump’s administration more time.The scale of the Democratic victory was far greater than anticipated, with Republicans losing seats in states that Trump had comfortably won in 2024. From Texas and South Carolina to Kansas and Ohio, Democratic candidates overturned decades of Republican dominance, exposing the cracks in the coalition that had powered Trump's return to the White House.An Associated Press (AP) Voter Poll of around 80,000 voters across all 50 states suggests that Republicans lost ground among several key groups, particularly young and Hispanic voters. The findings indicate that Trump's appeal among sections of the electorate has weakened considerably in just two years.The president, who was not directly on the ballot, nevertheless became a central factor in voters' decisions.

Around four in 10 voters said they cast their congressional ballots to express opposition to Trump, compared with fewer than two in 10 who wanted to signal support for him. Around six in 10 disapproved of his performance as president, while a similar proportion believed he prioritised his personal interests over those of the country.The economic situation emerged as another major factor behind the Republican setback.

Trump had returned to power in 2024 promising to bring down inflation and ease the financial burden on American households. However, his tariffs and the war against Iran contributed to rising costs, particularly for fuel and everyday essentials.Reuters reported that nearly two-thirds of voters blamed Trump for high prices, while almost nine in 10 considered the cost of living a crucial or major factor in their electoral decisions.

Around three-quarters said they were either angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country.The Republican Party also struggled to retain younger voters. According to the AP poll, nearly seven in 10 voters under 30 backed Democratic candidates in their local House races, compared with roughly three in 10 who supported Republicans. In 2024, younger voters had been almost evenly divided between Trump and Kamala Harris.Hispanic voters, another important part of Trump's 2024 winning coalition, also appeared to move away from Republicans. Only around one-third backed Republican House candidates, compared with approximately four in 10 who supported Trump two years ago. Around seven in 10 Hispanic voters believed Trump's policies had worsened economic conditions.Concerns over democracy and government corruption further strengthened the Democratic position.

Around three in 10 voters identified the state of democracy as the country's biggest issue, while roughly four in 10 pointed to the economy. Nearly seven in 10 also believed Congress was not doing enough to check presidential power.The results leave Trump facing a difficult final two years of his presidency, with Democrats poised to intensify scrutiny of his administration and obstruct key parts of his agenda. For Republicans, the defeat raises uncomfortable questions about whether loyalty to Trump has come at the expense of their wider electoral appeal.