NBC poll: Trump's approval rating hits new low for second term, Democrats lead congressional support by 9 percentage points

BlockBeats news, September 25 — According to the latest NBC News polling average, Democrats lead Republicans by 9 percentage points, 52% to 43%, in preferences for congressional control in the 2026 midterm elections, marking the largest lead for Democrats in the current polling cycle.

NBC News said the two parties were essentially tied in the first few weeks after Trump returned to the White House, but since then, independents' preference for Democratic control of Congress has gradually risen, while support for President Trump and his economic policies has declined.

The polling average is adjusted to a "likely voter" basis and measures whether voters prefer Democrats or Republicans to control Congress, without yet accounting for specific districts and candidate factors. NBC News said the average combines public polls that meet methodological and transparency standards and uses weighting to reduce the impact of individual poll volatility and outliers.

Meanwhile, NBC News said Trump's approval rating has now fallen to its lowest level since his second presidential term began.