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Poll Finds Record Low Trust in Republicans on Immigration, Prices

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 2:29 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. voters show record low trust in Republicans to handle immigration and rising prices, a poll finds.
A poll of 2,028 adults (Oct. 13-19) shows 52% prefer a Democrat in Congress versus 41% for Republicans.
Echelon Insights poll shows President Donald Trump’s urban approval rose 20 points from July to October 2026.
AP-NORC poll of 1,119 adults (Oct. 8-12) finds eight in ten voters want Congress to lower living costs.

History

Historical Context

In the 1994 midterm elections, Newt Gingrich’s Republican Party seized a 54-seat House majority, launching the Contract with America agenda. The GOP’s 1994 victory raised congressional Republican representation from 176 to 230 members, a 30% increase, reshaping immigration debates and Senate dynamics. Today, polls show 52% of voters favor Democrats on immigration and cost-of-living issues, echoing the 1994 backlash against Republican immigration stances among urban voters. The 1994 shift foreshadowed recurring partisan distrust, suggesting current Republican leaders must address economic anxiety to regain voter confidence in upcoming elections.

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Story summary

U.S. voters show record low trust in Republicans to handle immigration and rising prices, a poll finds.
A poll of 2,028 adults (Oct. 13-19) shows 52% prefer a Democrat in Congress versus 41% for Republicans.
Echelon Insights poll shows President Donald Trump’s urban approval rose 20 points from July to October 2026.
AP-NORC poll of 1,119 adults (Oct. 8-12) finds eight in ten voters want Congress to lower living costs.

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