WASHINGTON – With the U.S. midterm elections one year away, the Democratic Party has surged to a significant lead over the Republican Party, while President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted to their lowest levels of his second term.

According to a new poll released on November 19 by NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marist, 55 percent of registered voters said they would support the Democratic candidate in their district if the election were held today, compared to 41 percent for the Republican candidate. This 14-percentage-point advantage marks the Democrats' clearest lead since June 2022. Just one year ago, in November 2024, the two parties were tied at 48 percent.

President Trump’s political standing appears to be eroding rapidly. The survey shows his approval rating at 39 percent, his lowest in this poll since the January 6 Capitol riots in 2021. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll released earlier this week corroborated this trend, placing his support at 38 percent—a 2-percentage-point drop from earlier this month and the lowest recorded figure of his second term.

The primary driver of voter discontent appears to be the economy, specifically persistent inflation. When asked to identify the administration's top priority, 57 percent of respondents cited lowering prices. This sentiment is widespread across the political spectrum; 69 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of Independents, and notably 40 percent of Republicans identified inflation reduction as the most urgent task.

The political landscape has also been strained by the recent record-breaking 43-day federal government shutdown. regarding the impasse, 39 percent of voters blamed Democrats, while 34 percent held President Trump responsible, and 26 percent blamed congressional Republicans.

Despite the mixed attribution of blame for the shutdown, the broader economic frustration suggests a challenging path ahead for the Republican Party as it seeks to defend its position in the upcoming midterms.

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