A new AP-NORC poll reveals that 80 percent of registered voters are calling for significant change in how the country is governed, with just 13 percent of Republicans favoring "complete and total upheaval." The survey, conducted October 8-12 among 1,119 adults (including 925 registered voters), carries a margin of error of ±3.9 points for all adults and ±4.2 points for registered voters.
The appetite for change spans the political spectrum: 97 percent of Democrats, 90 percent of independents, and 58 percent of Republicans say they want either "complete and total upheaval" or "substantial change." That broad dissatisfaction comes as President Trump's job approval stands at 36 percent, with 64 percent disapproving, according to the same poll. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, voters seeking an overhaul may turn to Democrats: registered voters prefer Democratic control of the House by 9 points and the Senate by 8 points. Yet the Democratic Party's favorability is barely better than Trump's, with only about 4 in 10 viewing it favorably.
The anti-incumbent mood is already shaping Senate races in unexpected places. In Kansas—which Trump won by 16 points in 2024—Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) forecasts a tight contest between Sen. Roger Marshall (R) and pastor Adam Hamilton (D). Marshall has a 65 percent chance of winning reelection but trails by 0.9 percent in the polling average. Similarly, in Minnesota, where former Vice President Harris won by 4 points in 2024, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) leads former NFL reporter Michelle Tafoya (R) by just 3.7 points in DDHQ's average. Flanagan retains an 82 percent chance of victory, but the race has narrowed amid a healthcare fraud scandal that ensnared Gov. Tim Walz's administration, resulting in 15 indictments.
Voters are also deeply pessimistic about the future. Only 21 percent are optimistic about the Democratic Party's direction, 23 percent about the Republican Party's, and a mere 10 percent about the state of U.S. politics overall. Sixty-seven percent describe themselves as somewhat or very pessimistic. As voters weigh their options, concerns about corruption have become a top issue ahead of the midterms, according to a recent Fox News survey. Meanwhile, a majority say Trump prioritizes wealth over public interests, a separate poll found. And with voters saying Congress is clueless on costs as midterms near, the stage is set for a volatile election season.
