Poll: Over Half of Americans Believe Trump Will Reject Midterm Election Results
A new survey indicates significant public doubt about former President Trump's acceptance of election outcomes, with many also believing his influence is harming the Republican Party's chances in November.
More than half of Americans, 52%, believe former President Donald Trump will refuse to accept a Republican defeat in the upcoming November midterm elections, according to a Daily Mail/YouGov poll. Just 23% of respondents think he will accept the results, while 25% remain unsure.
The findings raise concerns about Trump's willingness to concede, echoing his actions following the 2020 presidential election. The poll, which surveyed 1,053 U.S. adult citizens from October 2-5 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, also revealed that 74% of Americans, including 72% of Republicans, believe Trump should accept the outcome if his party loses Congress.
Currently, national polls show Democrats leading Republicans by approximately eight points in the congressional midterms, with an average of 50.4% for Democrats compared to 42.2% for Republicans as of October 6, according to RealClearPolitics.
The survey suggests that Trump's strategy of urging voters to treat the election as a referendum on his presidency could be detrimental to the GOP. Forty-nine percent of respondents believe Trump is hurting the Republican Party's chances of retaining control of Congress, while only 20% feel he is helping, a 29-point gap. Among those intending to vote for a Democratic House candidate, 84% stated that Trump is harming Republican prospects.
When asked who would be most responsible for a Republican defeat, 40% of respondents pointed to Trump, with 25% unsure, 9% citing economic factors, 6% naming Republican candidates, and 5% attributing it to Democratic campaigning.
In response to Trump's perceived negative impact, some Republican candidates are reportedly downplaying their association with the former president. Campaign websites of Republican candidates, including Florida gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds and Georgia gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, have reportedly removed or toned down references to Trump and his agenda, shifting focus to issues like affordability and insurance costs.
Economic sentiment also presents a challenge for Republicans. Thirty-nine percent of respondents expect to be financially worse off if the GOP retains control of Congress, compared to 23% who believe they would be better off. Conversely, Democrats are more trusted to improve family finances, with 35% of respondents favoring them over Republicans at 29%.
The poll also touched on potential future political aspirations, examining Republican and Republican-leaning independent preferences for a 2028 presidential ticket. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the favored choice as Vice President JD Vance's running mate by 33% of respondents, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 13%. When asked who Vance would likely pick, Rubio led with 22%, versus DeSantis's 8%.