A majority of voters hold former President Donald Trump responsible for hindering the Republican Party's chances in the upcoming midterm elections, according to the final Daily Mail/Ipsos poll. The survey found that 55 percent of registered voters believe Trump is hurting Republicans' prospects, with only 48 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of independents agreeing with this assessment.
Fewer than half of Republicans polled believe Trump is helping their party's efforts, and only 20 percent of all voters think his campaigning is beneficial. The poll, which surveyed 1,021 US adults between October 30 and November 1, with a margin of error of ±3.5 points for registered voters, suggests a widespread sentiment that Trump's involvement is a drag on the GOP.
Despite Trump's extensive campaigning across over two dozen states since September, voters anticipate a challenging election night for Republicans. The poll indicates that 48 percent of registered voters expect Democrats to gain seats in the House of Representatives, while only 24 percent expect GOP advances. Even among Republicans, 15 percent anticipate Democratic gains in the House.
In the Senate races, which are polling closer, 43 percent expect Democratic gains compared to 26 percent for Republicans. Should Democrats secure control of either chamber, Trump would face increased obstacles in passing legislation and could be subject to further investigations by Democratic lawmakers.
The poll also revealed a greater sense of enthusiasm among Democratic voters, with 56 percent reporting being more energized about this election than previous ones, compared to 37 percent of Republicans and 28 percent of independents. Independents were the most likely to express decreased enthusiasm, with 22 percent feeling less engaged.
Economic concerns, including the cost of living, were identified as the primary drivers for voters, with 45 percent citing them as the most important factors in their decision. Corruption emerged as the second greatest concern (16 percent), followed by democratic values and norms (15 percent) and immigration (9 percent).
Concerns about election integrity were also prevalent, with 63 percent of registered voters expressing worry about potential tampering, a sentiment shared by 68 percent of Democrats and 66 percent of Republicans.
Traditionally Republican-held areas are reportedly facing threats of flipping to Democratic control, with polls showing narrowing races in states like Texas, Alaska, Kansas, and Mississippi. Trump has visited these states to support candidates, but the election results will indicate the effectiveness of his campaigning efforts in mitigating expected GOP losses or contributing to Democratic gains.
Trump himself had previously acknowledged the historical trend of midterm elections being challenging for the party of the sitting president, but the latest poll suggests voters believe his involvement has exacerbated this trend.