With midterm elections four weeks away, Democrats hold a 12-percentage-point lead over Republicans for Congress, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll of registered voters.
President Donald Trump dominates the calculation. Forty-five percent of voters say their congressional vote is against Trump; 25 percent say it supports him.
Economic anxiety drives the race. Voters consistently cite the cost of living and personal financial security as top concerns. Tariffs imposed by the U.S. government and gas prices tied to international conflicts directly hit household budgets and shape how voters view both parties' economic stewardship.
Immigration policy ranks as a second-tier issue, alongside concerns about rapid data center expansion in local communities. Voting access and election security have emerged as points of debate, with new ballot restrictions raising questions among some voters.
NPR's Morning Edition is deploying reporters to six competitive states—Maine, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan—to report on voter motivations in the final month.
Steve Inskeep will report from North Carolina and Georgia. North Carolina has an open Senate seat and newly redrawn congressional districts. Georgia hosts competitive Senate and gubernatorial races, having split its vote between parties in recent cycles.
Inskeep said he wants to report on voters who see the election as personal—those directly affected by Trump administration policies on immigration, government, education, taxes, foreign policy and the economy. Trump has urged supporters to vote as if he is on the ballot, and Inskeep said voters are likely to do exactly that.
