Midterms: 3 in 4 voters unhappy with US direction

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a growing sense of discontent with the United States' trajectory is becoming a dominant theme, according to recent exit polls reported by CBS News. This dissatisfaction appears to have escalated since the 2024 presidential election, with a significant portion of voters expressing frustration over the nation's progress.

The economy continues to be a primary source of voter concern, as many Americans remain doubtful about the improvement of financial conditions. Donald Trump's promise to tackle economic issues played a crucial role in his 2024 election win, but recent polling data indicates that economic discontent has not diminished. Democratic voters, in particular, seem more likely to voice their displeasure regarding the country's direction, according to the CBS News findings.

The findings suggest a widespread mood of frustration that transcends partisan lines, with economic pressures and dissatisfaction with national leadership influencing voters' perspectives. The latest data shows that negative views towards the US economy have become more prevalent than during the 2024 election, mirroring the sentiments from the 2022 midterm elections when the party in power suffered seat losses in Congress.

This places economic issues back at the forefront of the political discourse, as voters weigh the gap between their expectations and current financial realities.

Beyond economic concerns, CNN's Voter Poll adds further insight into voter dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's policies. A significant majority of respondents believe that Trump's tariffs have negatively impacted their local economy, with only a slim majority of voters seeing any benefit. Immigration enforcement also emerged as a contentious issue, with a majority of voters expressing that the administration's actions went too far.

Conversely, a significant portion of respondents argued that immigrants contribute more to the United States than they take away, highlighting a divide in opinion over immigration matters.

In foreign policy, there is a notable divergence between voters and President Trump. Nearly six in ten respondents found the decision to take military action against Iran to be misguided, while around half of the voters believed that US support for Israel is excessively strong. These foreign policy viewpoints represent a significant shift from the 2024 election, where only 31% of respondents held the same view.

Additionally, the polling data indicates growing opposition to the expansion of data centres and concerns about the broader implications of artificial intelligence. Approximately three-quarters of voters would oppose the construction of new data centres in their communities, indicating that this issue has become a local concern.

Similarly, more than half of the respondents felt that AI would do more harm than good for society, with only a quarter expecting positive impacts. These sentiments collectively paint a picture of a 2026 midterm electorate grappling with a range of concerns, including the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and emerging technologies.

While these surveys offer an early glimpse into voter sentiment, the final results will ultimately depend on the votes cast across individual races and states.