gas prices – A new Misryoum readout shows Americans pin higher gas costs on Trump while Democrats widen their midterm advantage.
Gas prices are hitting households so hard that most Americans say President Trump is to blame, even as Democrats look increasingly positioned for the November midterms.
In Misryoum’s latest polling snapshot. more than eight in 10 Americans say the pain at the pump is straining their household budgets. and a clear majority attributes the rise in gas prices to Trump.. The survey also finds Trump’s standing has deteriorated in ways that matter politically: overall approval is low. disapproval is high. and the intensity of opposition appears sharper than it has been at comparable points in his terms.
The political takeaway is straightforward: when everyday costs rise, voters often look for a direct answer at the top of the ticket, and this cycle’s economic stress seems to be shaping that judgment.
Misryoum reports that Democrats hold a double-digit lead in a congressional ballot test. a measure that asks voters which party’s candidate they would support if elections were held at that moment.. The gap is reinforced by a difference in enthusiasm to vote. which can be decisive in midterms when turnout typically falls short of presidential-election levels.. Misryoum’s polling also underscores that independents and other non-committed groups are not uniformly energized. leaving turnout as a key variable as November approaches.
Within Trump’s coalition. Misryoum notes broad declines across multiple demographic and political segments. including groups that had been more favorable earlier in his second term.. The poll points to shifts among voters in the South. voters with lower incomes. white voters without college degrees. and other categories that Republicans often rely on for base consolidation.. It also highlights crossovers, including younger voters and some Black and Latino voters, where support has weakened.
That matters because midterms tend to be won less by persuading everyone and more by protecting turnout where it is already available, while making it harder for the other side to show up.
The economy remains the center of gravity in Misryoum’s findings.. A large share of respondents say the economy is not working well for them personally. and the poll ties that sentiment to a mix of pressures that include tariffs and persistently higher prices. alongside the immediate cost shock from gasoline.. The survey also finds a wide majority saying their local area is not very affordable or not affordable at all.
Foreign policy enters the picture as well.. Misryoum’s numbers show Trump’s handling of Iran has become more unpopular. and respondents are more likely to say military action has done more harm than good.. Voters also express concern that the administration’s decisions have weakened the United States on the world stage. adding another layer to the challenge Democrats can frame in campaign messaging.
At the end of the day, Misryoum’s polling suggests a referendum dynamic forming around daily affordability and trust in leadership, while Democrats appear to benefit from both a current advantage in voter preferences and a comparatively stronger appetite to vote.
The survey further captures how Americans view voting rules and congressional power.. Misryoum reports broad support for measures such as requiring government-issued photo ID to vote and limiting the age and number of terms for members of Congress.. It also shows a split on automatic registration into the military’s Selective Service. reflecting a sharp partisan divide over how the policy should work.
As the midterm calendar moves toward fall, Misryoum’s findings point to a tightening political environment for Republicans and a potential opening for Democrats to convert economic frustration and dissatisfaction with foreign-policy decisions into sustained electoral momentum.