Poll shows 11-point Democratic lead in Congress race

Democrats hold an 11-point lead over Republicans for control of Congress in the six days before the November 3 midterm elections. The new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 47% of registered voters would choose the Democratic Party for the House and Senate, while 36% would pick the GOP. An additional 11% of respondents said they did not know how they would vote.

The margin is one point smaller than the gap recorded in a previous poll that ended on October 19. When undecided voters indicated their partisan leanings, the difference narrowed to nine points. In that scenario, Democrats led 50% to 41%.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating rose to 32%, up one point from the record low set last week. Republicans aim to retain their majorities in both chambers of Congress. A loss in either body could hinder the administration’s ability to pass legislation during the final two years of Trump’s second term.

Pollsters note that generic ballot results reflect national sentiment but do not account for district-specific advantages. Analysts generally assess that Democrats have a strong chance of winning the House, while the path to the Senate remains more difficult for them.

Turnout data suggests Democratic voters are more energized than their Republican counterparts. Among likely voters, Democrats led by nine points, 53% to 44%. Additionally, 46% of Democratic voters reported being very enthusiastic about the midterms, compared to 30% of Republican voters.

Inflation remains the central economic issue in the race. The cost of living has risen since the military strikes on Iran in February increased gasoline prices. In the current poll, 73% of voters said their cost of living was moving in the wrong direction.

The economic advantage has shifted. Before the conflict, surveys showed voters preferring Republicans as better economic stewards. Now, 37% of voters say Democrats have the better approach to the economy, while 33% favor Republicans. The online survey polled 1,679 US adults, including 1,280 registered voters, with a margin of error of three percentage points for registered voters.