Trump's Approval Rating in Senate Battlegrounds 2 Weeks Before Midterms

President Donald Trump's approval rating remains low in Senate battlegrounds as Republicans and Democrats compete for control of the upper chamber of Congress just two weeks before the midterm elections. Trump's approval rating, along with voters' views on the economy, has made the GOP's task challenging, two years after his 2024 victory.

Historically, unpopular presidents often see their parties lose seats during midterms, and Democrats are favored to retake the House this year. However, the Senate is generally considered more difficult to flip. Initially, some Republican-held seats were considered easy pickups, but the map has expanded in Democrats' favor due to Trump's declining approval ratings.

Toss-up races now include Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas, all of which are underwater in terms of Trump's approval rating, according to Civiqs. Professor Jacob Neiheisel from the University at Buffalo believes Trump's poor numbers have given Democrats an edge in tough races, as they can capitalize on the in-party's shortcomings.

With many of these races appearing close, a strong showing by Democrats could result in significant gains. A recent Reuters and Ipsos poll found Trump's national net approval rating at -35 points, with 31 percent approving and 66 percent disapproving. Trump has criticized such polls, claiming they are inaccurate. Democrats hope to flip the Senate, but polling errors could still benefit Republicans.

Trump recently campaigned in Alaska, where GOP Senator Dan Sullivan is facing a close challenge from former Representative Mary Peltola. Trump's approval rating in Alaska was -12 points, and Peltola is leading in recent polls. In Iowa, Trump's rating is -22 points, with a tight race between Republican Representative Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Representative Josh Turek.