Pew finds Democratic voters more engaged than Republicans as midterms approach

The percentage of Democrats who say they are "extremely motivated" to vote is 17 points higher than Republicans.(CN) — Less than four weeks out from the midterm elections, Pew Research found in a new poll that Democratic voters are significantly more motivated than Republicans.A survey of 5,062 U.S. adults, including 3,917 registered voters, conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 found that 63% of voters who support the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in their district are “extremely motivated” to vote — 17 points higher than for Republicans. A similar poll conducted in October before the last midterms, in which Republicans took control of the House, showed the GOP two points higher than Democrats on that measure.Meanwhile, 44% of registered voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district if the election were held today, compared to 36% for Republicans. Seventy-eight percent of Democratic voters say it “really matters” which party wins, compared to 69% of Republicans, and 50% of Democrats say they’ve given the election “a lot” of thought, 14 points higher than Republicans.The poll also finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 30% — the lowest of his second term, and only one point higher than when he left office in January 2021, shortly after the Jan. 6 attack.A majority of voters, 63%, say Trump is a factor in their vote, with far more viewing their choice as against him (44%) than for him (19%).Voters who voted for Trump in 2024 are less consolidated behind the GOP in the midterms, with 77% of them saying they would vote for the Republican candidate in their House district if the election were held today, compared to 87% of 2024 Kamala Harris voters who say they would vote for the Democrat. Among 2024 Trump voters, 5% say they would vote for the Democratic candidate, another 5% would support another candidate, and 13% say they aren’t sure.Among Republicans and those who lean GOP, only 39% say they are satisfied with the state of the nation. This number is the lowest of Trump’s second term, down from 65% shortly after he took office and 54% at the beginning of this year. Overall, 77% of Americans say they are dissatisfied with where the country is.The economy ranks as the top issue for voters in the approaching midterms, with 84% saying it is “very important” to their vote. This holds true on both sides of the aisle, with 88% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans saying the economy is a very important issue.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads