A Trump approval poll published by AP-NORC on October 15, 2026, found that 36% of registered voters approved of the president’s job performance, while 64% disapproved. The findings document dissatisfaction before the November 3 midterms, without establishing the outcome of any congressional race.
The survey’s published summary also identifies economic concerns as prominent election issues. Eighty-five percent of voters considered the economy among their most important issues, and 84% said the same about the cost of living.
Those findings provide a firmer basis for discussing voter frustration than an unverified doorstep exchange circulating in a supplied political graphic. They do not establish that Donald Trump is America’s worst president, which is a political judgment rather than a result measured by this survey.
What the Trump approval poll found
AP-NORC’s summary reported that 47% of voters preferred Democratic control of the House, compared with 38% who preferred Republican control. For the Senate, the figures were 46% for Democrats and 38% for Republicans.
The House difference is nine percentage points, calculated by subtracting 38 from 47. The Senate difference is eight points, calculated by subtracting 38 from 46. Neither figure is a prediction of how many seats a party will win.
The published summary also listed 15% as unsure about congressional control. Those respondents cannot simply be counted as future supporters of either party. Final voting decisions and participation remain separate questions.
How the survey was conducted
The AP-NORC survey interviewed 1,119 adults from October 8 through October 12, including 925 registered voters, according to Associated Press reporting. Respondents came from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, and interviews were conducted online and by telephone.
The reported margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.9 percentage points for all adults and 4.2 points for registered voters. The voter margin is the relevant one for the registered-voter findings discussed here; the two populations should not be treated interchangeably.
The published topline identifies funding from The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago. The poll’s full methodology could not be independently verified. This review accessed indexed results and methodology summaries, but direct access to the complete questionnaire and methodology materials was unsuccessful.
That limitation matters when interpreting exact question wording, response options and subgroup comparisons. The Trump approval poll should be read as a dated survey estimate, rather than a count of ballots or proof of what every American believes.
The doorstep exchange remains unverified
The supplied graphic presents a conversation in which a Republican canvasser asks why someone intends to vote Democratic. The reply is “everything.” No recording, location, identifiable canvasser or supporting evidence accompanied the submission.
A search found similar wording on an indexed Threads post, but the original conversation and its circumstances could not be authenticated. The exchange should therefore be described as an unverified anecdote, not a documented interview or a representative sample of voters.
Anecdotes and survey findings answer different questions. Even a genuine conversation would establish what those participants said, rather than how frequently that view occurs across the electorate.
What congressional elections will decide
The Federal Election Commission lists November 3, 2026, as the general election date. USAGov explains that congressional elections determine representation and which party holds a majority in each chamber.
All 435 House seats are contested in regular midterm elections. Senators serve staggered six-year terms, so roughly one-third of Senate seats are regularly contested every two years. A Senate race will not appear on every voter’s ballot.
These elections take place between presidential elections. They do not directly elect or replace the president. Readers can review USAGov’s explanation of congressional elections for the basic process.
What to watch before November 3
Hourly Times’ earlier coverage of affordability and the midterm campaign provides background on the economic debate. Its earlier polling should be kept separate from this October survey.
The Trump approval poll records views during its fieldwork period. The next decisive test is the November 3 election, when actual votes will determine congressional representation and control.
