Republicans need to pay attention. This is their ticket out.
Because a key poll unlocked the secret to winning the midterm elections.
Fox News Poll: Voters Signal Desire for Sweeping Change as Both Parties Face Deep Distrust
A new Fox News Poll shows widespread voter discontent heading into the midterms, with President Donald Trump’s approval stuck near a record low even as the survey reveals both parties are viewed as beholden to elite interests and out of touch with everyday Americans.
Trump Approval Holds Near Record Low Amid Economic Frustration
President Trump’s job approval stands at 39%, unchanged for the third month in a row and just one point above his low of 38% in October 2017. Trump received net-negative ratings for handling immigration (42% approve, 57% disapprove), Iran (34-66%), the economy (33-67%), and inflation (27-73%).
Three-quarters of voters rate the economy negatively, a figure that has held steady over the past six months. Another three-quarters say inflation has caused them financial hardship, including 34% who describe it as “serious” hardship, up from 26% last year. Fifty-four percent expect the economy to worsen in the coming year, with only Republicans expressing optimism at 71%.
Both Parties Viewed as Captured by Elites, Voters Want New Blood
Despite the numbers looking favorable for Democrats on paper, the poll reveals deep skepticism toward the political establishment as a whole. Some 70% of voters say the Republican Party is closely tied to elite interests, while 55% say the same about the Democratic Party.
“Democrats and Republicans have a surprisingly broad array of shared beliefs about politics today,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News polls with Democratic pollster Chris Anderson. “Both think elected officials answer to the elites, both think the system is rigged, both want to see new blood in office, both feel betrayed by their party, both disapprove of their members in Congress, and both want a mandatory retirement age for Congress.”
Many Democrats (48%) and Republicans (41%) say they feel betrayed by their own party, primarily over selling out to special interests. By 2-to-1, voters say it is more important to elect new people than keep those with experience, and 85% support a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress, up 20 points since 2002.
Generic Ballot Shows Democratic Edge, But Cautions Remain
If the election were held today, 53% of voters say they would back the Democratic candidate in their House district compared to 46% for the Republican, a 7-point edge just outside the poll’s margin of error and the highest percentage either party has received on the generic House ballot in Fox News polling since 1996.
Shaw cautioned that the topline numbers may not translate directly into Democratic gains in the House. “Although these data look promising for the Democrats, some of their support is in less-contested districts, padding their national totals without adding House seats,” Shaw said. “The best estimates I’ve seen suggest the GOP could retain the House even if the Democrats win the national vote by 2-3 points, but if Democrats win by 6-7 points, they probably take the House.”
Nearly 7 in 10 voters disapprove of both parties’ performance in Congress, with more than 8 in 10 independents disapproving of both sides equally — underscoring an electorate hungry for change regardless of party label.
Conducted July 17–20, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with 1,003 registered voters. Results have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.
