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WASHINGTON — Exit poll results released Tuesday evening were ominous for Republicans — with about 70% of voters saying they want Congress to do more to check President Trump while about 60% blamed him for high prices.
The findings, released less than an hour before the first polls closed, showed that three-quarters of voters were “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the direction of the country and six in ten disapproved of Trump’s performance.
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Trump has urged midterm voters to act as if he’s on the ballot — a notion that the survey suggests could backfire.
The Associated Press exit poll found that four in 10 voters said the economy was their top issue while three in 10 cited the fate of democracy as their primary concern.
The economy historically has been one of Trump’s strongest areas in polling, but he has struggled to counter the impact of higher energy prices and interest rates, as well as inflation caused by his war with Iran.
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An NBC News exit poll, meanwhile, found that 43% of voters had a favorable view of the Democratic Party, compared to 38% who said the same of Republicans.
The polling suggests Republicans risk losing both the House and Senate, which would derail Trump’s legislative priorities and nominations while miring his final two years in office in congressional investigations.
