Voters Weigh Tariffs and Prices as AP Poll Shows 35% Approval on Election Day

The Associated Press describes today’s midterm election as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term, with voters struggling with high prices and angry over an unpopular war with Iran. The AP-NORC polling released on November 3 indicates that 35% of U.S. adults approve of the president’s job performance. A further 25% approve of his handling of the economy. About 7 in 10 Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction, and most blame the president for high prices.

More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote of four years ago in many closely watched states. Republicans were bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate, with the AP noting that one or two seats could tip either chamber. Democrats were described as cautiously optimistic. The results will decide who controls Congress for the president’s final two years, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats up for grabs.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, James Moore, 57, a librarian, cited the cost of living as his primary concern. Moore stated that he is paying more taxes, more for healthcare, and more for everything. His sentiment aligns with the AP-NORC findings on economic approval. The state is also deciding on a new congressional map after mid-decade redistricting. In the Senate, former Gov. Roy Cooper is facing former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley in a race where economic strain has made the state competitive according to the AP.

Conversely, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, voter Mark Barker said he has been following Trump the whole time and thinks he is doing an awesome job. Barker’s view reflects the approval segment in the AP-NORC data. Florida is using a new congressional map, and the state is deciding on a special Senate election and a competitive governor race. Republicans hold 26 governorships nationwide, and Democrats hope to hold a majority for the first time in two decades.

The AP notes that tariffs and economic strain have made states like Maine competitive. In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins is facing Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson. The state voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, and the AP says economic concerns are driving the race. In Michigan, which also voted for Harris in 2024, Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers is facing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed’s former primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers on Sunday.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized that everything depends on turnout. Gruters stated that if Republicans turn out their voters, they win, which is what they have been planning for. DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene countered that the American people are angry and want change. The AP analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1% of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024, including more than $850 million where he won by 10 points or more.

Trump has continued to make claims about voting fraud, including that noncitizens vote in large numbers. His administration sued in Alaska and California, and Democrats fear interference as the Justice Department threatens to prosecute local election officials. A federal judge on Monday temporarily barred the administration from carrying out a plan it says would prevent noncitizen voting. Critics say the plan risks disenfranchising eligible voters and infringes on states' authority over elections.

The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines so mail ballots are counted on time. Reuters notes that Wall Street is watching for more than control of Congress, as results could add to investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations. The 2026 elections will likely be the most expensive in history, with Republican committees outraising and outspending Democratic committees at the committee level, though Democrats outraised their opponents at the candidate level.

In Kansas, a reliably Republican state, the race has become central to the fight for Senate control. Trump ended his rally schedule in Salina, Kansas, on Sunday, telling voters to pretend he is on the ballot. The state is also deciding on a governor race where Republicans defend a seat in a state Trump won in 2024. The AP describes the election as a test of whether the president's party can beat the midterm pattern of losing seats.

If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries would be the first Black speaker if Democrats take the House and has outlined a 100-day agenda on the cost of living and oversight. A strong Democratic night would boost potential 2028 candidates Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg, and could complicate Vice President JD Vance’s path. Republicans tried to beat the pattern with redistricting, but new districts in Florida and elsewhere may not vote as drawn.

Polls are open in all states, with hours varying by location. In North Carolina, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time. In Florida, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern and Central zones. Anyone in line when polls close is entitled to vote. The results will determine the balance of power in Congress for the next two years, with Democrats needing a net gain of three House districts and four Senate seats for majorities.