Tariffs and Living Costs Test Trump’s Midterm Campaign

About 8 in 10 voters named the economy or cost of living among their top issues, as Republicans in some battleground races try to distance themselves from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Polls cited in campaign coverage show voters sour on the economy and Trump's handling of prices, while immigration and crime ranked lower in one national survey.

Prices Put Republicans on the Defensive

An AP-NORC poll found nearly 8 in 10 voters disapproved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, and about three-quarters disapproved of his performance on the economy. About half of registered voters preferred Democratic control of the House or Senate, roughly 4 in 10 preferred Republican control, and 15% were undecided.

A Fox News Poll reported by Newsweek put Trump's approval at 36%, with disapproval at 64%. His approval on inflation stood at 22%, which the report described as a new low. The poll found that 74% rated the economy negatively, 53% expected it to worsen next year, nearly 60% named cost of living as their top economic concern, and 55% said inflation was not at all under control. Seven in 10 voters said they'd vote in the midterms to send a message to Trump. In a hypothetical House vote, 54% backed the Democratic candidate and 45% the Republican.

The AP-NORC poll found that about two-thirds of voters named health care and the war in Iran among their top election issues. Immigration and crime ranked lower. The Fox poll found voters trusted Democrats more on health care, gas prices, artificial intelligence and foreign policy, while Republicans led on border security, crime and immigration.

DonnaJean Weber, a 72-year-old Republican from Manistee, Michigan, said she planned to support Republican candidates but objected to rising costs and Trump's tariffs. “Everything's going up,” she said, citing the war with Iran and other Trump decisions. “I don't agree with him fully on all of these tariffs, either. It's making this country look bad.”

Campaigns Focus on Turnout and Control

Georgia recorded 188,667 in-person ballots on the first day of early voting this week, about 40% more than on the first day in 2022. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff debated Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mike Collins on Tuesday. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appeared alone at an Atlanta Press Club debate Monday after Republican opponent Rick Jackson declined the invitation.

Vice President JD Vance met supporters Wednesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Trump is scheduled to hold a rally at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Dalton Municipal Airport, where Jackson and Collins are expected to attend. Independent political strategist Omar Ali said Republicans were bringing Trump to rural areas to motivate turnout. “They are using President Trump in areas that is heavy MAGA base to motivate the rural areas to get out to vote,” Ali said.

Trump campaigned in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday, backing candidates and emphasizing gun rights, national security and the economy. In Montana, he announced the Pentagon would establish a new “super range” to test advanced weapons and military technologies. At a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, he backed Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and other GOP candidates. Biggs said, “Vote Republican top to bottom. Let's turn Arizona red.”

Voters Weigh Change

The AP-NORC poll found Democratic voters were more enthusiastic about voting than Republicans, and more voters preferred Democrats to control Congress. About three-quarters of Democratic voters called voting in November's midterms extremely important, compared with roughly 6 in 10 Republicans. About half of voters wanted “substantial change,” while roughly 3 in 10 wanted “complete and total upheaval.”

The Fox News coverage said Democrats were preparing a 100-day agenda if they regained the House. It included lowering grocery, gas and health care costs, restoring expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits, reversing Republican Medicaid cuts, seeking votes to end Trump's tariffs and preparing investigations into Trump, his family and his administration. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, assigned lawmakers to prepare the investigations. Republicans held a narrow House majority.

The AP-NORC survey questioned 1,119 adults, including 925 registered voters, from Oct. 8-12. Its margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.9 percentage points for adults overall and plus or minus 4.2 points for registered voters. The Fox News Poll surveyed 1,202 registered voters nationwide from Oct. 9-12, with a 2.5% margin of error. The November 3 election will decide control of Congress, along with dozens of governorships and thousands of state offices.