US voters want change and worry about the economy ahead of midterms, polls find
An AP-NORC poll finds broad demand for change in Washington, while a separate Guardian-Harris survey shows economic pessimism among independent voters.
A new AP-NORC poll reported on October 15 found broad demand for change in how the United States is run ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. A separate Guardian-Harris poll found worsening views of the economy among independent voters, adding to the pressure on candidates seeking their votes.
What the AP-NORC poll found about political change
In the AP-NORC survey of more than 1,100 US adults, 80% said the country needed either substantial change or complete upheaval in how it is run, according to Associated Press reporting carried by Al Jazeera. Democrats and independents were more likely than Republicans to favor a total overhaul. Among Republicans, 45% wanted substantial change and 13% wanted upheaval.
Economic concerns also featured prominently in the AP-NORC findings. Al Jazeera reported that 85% of respondents identified the economy as one of the most significant issues when weighing their vote. About eight in ten registered voters disapproved of President Donald Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while about three-quarters disapproved of his performance on the economy.
The survey also found strong stated interest in the election: about two-thirds of registered voters considered voting extremely important, and roughly two in ten considered it very important. Those responses describe voters’ priorities and intentions; they do not establish how many people will vote or which party they will choose.
Independent voters’ economic outlook in the Guardian-Harris poll
The Guardian’s separate Harris Poll surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,998 US adults online from September 24 to October 3. Among independents, 65% said the economy was getting worse, up from 48% in September 2024. The comparison points to a shift in sentiment among voters who are not aligned with either major party, though it does not show how they will vote in November.
Only 28% of Republicans in the Guardian-Harris poll said the economy was getting better, compared with 49% in February 2026 and 39% in February 2025. Three-quarters of respondents were concerned about a recession, and 61% believed the US was already in one. The Guardian noted that the country was not then in a recession under the typical definition.
The Guardian reported that voters identified gas and grocery prices as factors in how they would vote in November. Together, the two polls show why economic conditions are central to the midterm debate: the AP-NORC results capture widespread dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of living costs, while the Guardian-Harris results show how many independents and Republicans view the economy’s direction.
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Sources and context
- Ahead of US midterms, voters are frustrated with Trump, want change: PollAl Jazeera, with reporting credited to The Associated Press
- Key US voters say economy is getting worse ahead of midterms, exclusive poll findsThe Guardian (Lauren Aratani; Harris Poll survey reporting)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.