Democrats more trusted than Republicans on economic issues
Washington, D.C., October 20, 2026 – A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll finds that Democrats have a growing lead over Republicans on economic issues, with Americans being more likely to trust Democrats than Republicans on the economy (37% trust Democrats, 28% trust Republicans) and the cost of living (38%, 24%).
In comparison, Democrats and Republicans ran about even on the economy in July 2026, when 33% trusted Democrats more and 34% trusted Republicans more.
This comes as Americans express widespread dissatisfaction with the U.S. economy, with 75% describing the nation’s economy as poor or not so good and 25% describing it as excellent or good. In addition, a plurality of Americans (48%) say they are not as well off financially as they were when President Donald Trump became president in January 2025 (15% better off, 36% about the same).
The poll, conducted just under a month before the 2026 congressional elections, also finds that 59% of Americans would rather see the next Congress controlled by Democrats, to act as a check on Trump, compared to 35% who prefer the next Congress be controlled by Republicans, to support Trump’s agenda. When it comes to election administration, two in five Americans (38%) say they are not confident that the 2026 midterms will be conducted fairly and accurately, compared to 61% who are.
This survey also explores views of President Donald Trump’s job performance, finding that 33% approve and 66% disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president.
About the Study
This poll was jointly sponsored and funded by The Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos. The poll includes a random sample of 2,545 U.S. adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
The questionnaire was administered with the exact questions in the exact order as they appear in this document. Demographic questions are not shown. If a question was asked of a reduced base of the sample, a parenthetical preceding the question identifies the group asked. Phrases surrounded by parentheticals within questions indicate clauses that were randomly rotated for respondents.
Ipsos conducted sampling, interviewing and tabulation for the survey using the KnowledgePanel, a nationwide survey panel designed to be representative of the U.S. adult population. KnowledgePanel members are recruited through probability sampling methods using address-based sampling. Panel members who do not have internet access are provided with a tablet and internet service. KnowledgePanel members receive a per survey incentive, usually the equivalent of $1 (though for some it is $2) in points that can be redeemed for cash or prizes.
In this poll, invitations were sent to 3,861 panelists, resulting in 2,545 completed interviews. In quality control, 78 respondents were removed for skipping half or more of the questions for which they were eligible or for completing the survey among the fastest 1 percent of interviews.
Ipsos used probability-proportional-to-size sampling to draw a national sample of adults using the KnowledgePanel matching U.S. population benchmarks. This survey uses statistical weighting procedures to account for deviations in the survey sample from known population characteristics, which helps correct for differential survey participation and random variation in samples.
The following table shows unweighted, weighted and benchmark values for weighting variables:
| Unweighted | Weighted | Benchmark | |
| Age by sex | % | % | % |
| 18-29, Male | 8.2 | 10.2 | 10.2 |
| 18-29, Female | 7.6 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| 30-44, Male | 12.7 | 12.5 | 12.5 |
| 30-44, Female | 11.2 | 12.9 | 12.9 |
| 45-59, Male | 11.5 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| 45-59, Female | 10.8 | 11.5 | 11.5 |
| 60+, Male | 17.9 | 14.9 | 14.9 |
| 60+, Female | 20.1 | 17.3 | 17.3 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White/Non-Hispanic | 63.2 | 58.7 | 58.7 |
| Black/Non-Hispanic | 10.7 | 11.2 | 11.2 |
| Other or 2+ Races/Non-Hispanic | 11.1 | 11.2 | 11.2 |
| Hispanic | 15.0 | 18.9 | 18.9 |
| Education | |||
| Less than HS | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| HS graduate or equivalent | 27.0 | 28.1 | 28.1 |
| Some college | 25.4 | 26.2 | 26.2 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.8 | 23.1 | 23.1 |
| Master’s or above | 14.9 | 14.1 | 14.1 |
| Region by metro status | |||
| Northeast, metro | 15.6 | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Northeast, non-metro | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Midwest, metro | 15.9 | 15.5 | 15.5 |
| Midwest, non-metro | 5.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| South, metro | 31.7 | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| South, non-metro | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| West, metro | 20.9 | 21.0 | 21.0 |
| West, non-metro | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Household income | |||
| Under $25,000 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 13.0 | 12.7 | 12.7 |
| $50,000-$74,999 | 13.5 | 13.3 | 13.3 |
| $75,000-$99,999 | 11.7 | 12.2 | 12.2 |
| $100,000-$149,999 | 20.1 | 18.8 | 18.8 |
| $150,000 and over | 33.5 | 34.1 | 34.1 |
| Language dominance | |||
| Not Hispanic | 3.8 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Hispanic - English dominant | 8.3 | 9.8 | 9.8 |
| Hispanic - Bilingual | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Hispanic - Spanish dominant | 85.0 | 81.1 | 81.1 |
| 2024 presidential vote | |||
| Donald Trump | 32.5 | 29.5 | 29.5 |
| Kamala Harris | 31.0 | 28.6 | 28.6 |
| Another candidate | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Did not vote/Refused | 35.6 | 40.9 | 40.9 |
| Among 2024 voters | |||
| Donald Trump | 50.4 | 49.9 | 49.8 |
| Kamala Harris | 48.1 | 48.4 | 48.3 |
| Another candidate | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Party identification | |||
| Democrat | 30.2 | 28.6 | 28.6 |
| Ind/Other – lean Democrat | 16.7 | 18.7 | 18.7 |
| Refused to lean | 7.3 | 9.8 | 9.8 |
| Ind/Other – lean Republican | 15.5 | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Republican | 30.3 | 27.8 | 27.8 |
Sources:
- Census Bureau Current Population Survey 2026 March Supplement (age by sex, race/ethnicity,
education, region by metro status, household income)
- Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey (language dominance)
- Associated Press tabulation of certified results (2024 presidential vote)
Political party identification benchmarks are from the 2026 NPORS annual survey, measured at similar points for KnowledgePanel panelists as the benchmarking survey.
All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which is 1.05 for this survey. The design effect is a factor representing the survey’s deviation from a simple random sample and takes into account decreases in precision due to sample design and weighting procedures.
ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos are charter members of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, which recognizes organizations that disclose key methodological details on the research they produce.
