Democrats hold a slim lead over Republicans ahead of the midterm elections as President Donald Trump faces near-record-low approval ratings.
Democrats currently hold a 3-percentage-point lead over Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, according to a new Washington Post-Ipsos poll. While the margin is narrow, Democratic supporters show higher motivation to head to the polls, with 53% of those "absolutely certain to vote" supporting the Democratic party compared to 45% for Republicans. President Donald Trump currently holds a 37 percent approval rating as the administration navigates challenges regarding the economy and the Iran war. This marks a decline from 2018, when Democrats held a 10-point lead and gained 40 U.S. House seats. Current Senate numbers show a 53-47 Republican majority, while House Speaker Mike Johnson maintains a narrow two-vote margin. Republicans aim to enact the agenda of President Donald Trump, though partisan gerrymandering creates uncertainty for Democrats seeking to regain control of both chambers. The poll indicates Democrats are 10% more likely to certainly vote this year than Republicans, a significant increase from their 2-point edge in 2018.