A new poll shows Democrats with a big lead on one of the most important questions going into the midterms next year.
According to an NPR/PBS News/Marist survey conducted Nov. 10-13, 55% of voters said they’d pick a Democratic candidate in their district if the election were held today, compared with 41% who said the same about a Republican candidate.
That’s a 14-point advantage and the largest that Democrats have had in a Marist poll since 2017, according to NPR.
The 2017 survey was conducted during the first year of Trump’s first term as voters grappled with the chaotic start of his presidency and the deluge of actions he took on immigration, climate and tax policy.
The following year, Democrats picked up roughly 40 seats in the House as voters turned out to express their support for the party’s focus on health care and their opposition to Trump.
Democrats’ current advantage marks a significant change from last November, when they were about even with Republicans on the question of which party voters would pick for their district. They’re also bolstered by support from independents, with 61% saying they’d choose a Democrat compared to 28% saying the same about a Republican.
The 2025 elections, and Democrats’ success in places like New Jersey and Virginia, similarly signal momentum for the party as 2026 approaches.
Ahead of those contests, 41% of voters said their vote was a rebuke of Trump, compared with 21% who said it was an indication of support, according to a CNN poll.
The NPR/PBS News/Marist Survey highlighted Trump’s unpopularity: According to the poll, 56% of voters disapprove of the job Trump is doing, while 39% approve.