Voters across the United States are growing more negative about the domestic and foreign policies of President Donald Trump, according to a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. In the weeks before the November 3 congressional midterm elections, 80 percent of Americans surveyed said the country needs substantial change or “complete and total upheaval” in how it is run.
The survey of more than 1,100 US adults was released on Thursday. Its findings point to a broad appetite for legislative change that could pose a risk to the Republican Party as it seeks to keep control of both houses of Congress.
Republican voters also want some change
Democrats and independents are far more likely than Republicans to want a complete overhaul of the country’s direction, the survey found. Even so, 45 percent of Republican voters want substantial change, and 13 percent are seeking upheaval.
More voters want Democrats to win control of Congress, and they hold a more negative view of Republicans.
Cost of living weighs heavily on Trump’s ratings
Soaring living costs are shaping the views of a majority of the electorate. Eighty-five percent of respondents said the economy is one of the most significant issues in weighing their vote.
About eight in 10 registered voters disapprove of how Trump is handling the cost of living, and about three-quarters disapprove of his performance on the economy. Only about one-third of registered voters hold a “very” or “somewhat” favourable view of the president, and a similar share approve of his performance in office.
Healthcare, the Iran war and other key issues
Immigration and crime rates are top priorities for 45 percent of voters, according to the survey, though Republicans cite them more often than Democrats. Democratic voters are more likely to name healthcare as their top priority. Other issues the survey measured included:
- Healthcare: 69 percent of voters consider it a top issue
- The war on Iran: 64 percent say it is top of mind
- Artificial intelligence: 35 percent rank it as a substantial issue
- Transgender issues: 12 percent rank them as a substantial issue
Despite their grievances, a majority of voters in both major parties still value civic engagement. About two-thirds of registered voters say it is ‘extremely’ important to vote in the upcoming election, while about two in 10 say it is ‘very’ important. Seventy-five percent of Democratic voters call voting extremely important, compared with roughly 60 percent of Republican respondents.
