Some ratings on this page are entered from the public AllSides ratings and not yet verified against the licensed feed.
Polls Show Democrats Leading on Generic Ballot Ahead of Midterm Elections
What happened
Multiple polls released in the weeks before the midterm elections showed Democrats leading Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, with margins ranging from 3 to 7 points depending on the survey. The polls also found widespread concern about the economy and affordability, with most Americans saying the country is on the wrong track. Several surveys indicated that a majority of voters doubted President Trump would accept midterm results if Republicans lost their congressional majority.
Side by side
Left-leaning outlets led with Democratic advantages, emphasizing that "voters trust Democrats more on issues" and highlighting Trump's "approval rating hits record low." They focused on concerns that "Republicans could try to overturn the results" and featured economic pessimism as a backdrop to Democratic leads.
- GUKey US voters say economy is getting worse ahead of midterms, exclusive poll findsThe Guardian · Left
- NYTMost Voters Believe the Midterm Elections Will Be Accurate, Poll FindsThe New York Times · Lean Left
- NPRPoll: Voters want Congress to be a check on Trump, trust Democrats more on issuesNPR News · Lean Left
- ABCAbout 6 in 10 Americans confident election will be conducted fairly, accurately: PollABC News · Lean Left
- USANearly 3 in 4 Americans say country is on the wrong track, poll saysUSA Today · Lean Left · link via Google News
- ABCDems lead GOP in House vote choice as Trump's approval rating hits record low: PollABC News · Lean Left
Center outlets gave more balanced coverage of poll findings, leading with both parties' challenges. They emphasized that "most see lawmakers as out of touch on spending" and that "70 percent of respondents" doubt Trump would accept losses. They presented Democratic leads as numerical findings alongside economic concerns affecting both parties.
- HILAbout half concerned Republicans could try to overturn midterm results: SurveyThe Hill · Center
- HIL7 in 10 doubt Trump would accept GOP losses in midterms: SurveyThe Hill · Center
- NWTrump Shrugs Off Affordability—Republicans Say It’s a CrisisNewsweek · Center
- NWDonald Trump Gets Warning Sign From Republicans 18 Days Until MidtermsNewsweek · Center
- HILDemocrats hold 3-point lead on generic ballot: AARP pollThe Hill · Center
- HILMost see lawmakers as out of touch on spending: PollThe Hill · Center
- HILDemocrats lead Republicans on favorability, economy: GallupThe Hill · Center
- HILMost voters see Congress as out of touch on spending despite midterm affordability pitchThe Hill · Center
Only one right-leaning outlet covered this story, reporting straightforwardly that "Democrats leading Republicans by 7 points on the generic congressional ballot" without additional framing about Trump or voter concerns.
- WTMore Americans fear worse finances with a GOP Congress than a Democratic Congress: PollThe Washington Times · Lean Right
- BRTPoll: Democrats Lead Republicans on Generic Congressional Ballot by 7 PointsBreitbart News · Right
Bias ratings from AllSides Media Bias Ratings™. Ratings are fluid and change as outlets change. Unbiased links to the source article rather than reproducing it. A few outlets no longer publish a feed and reach us through Google News; their links are marked, and they pass through Google before reaching the outlet.