LEE CARTER: America is angry at everyone — but who will actually vote?

With the midterms approaching, Lee Carter argues that voters’ willingness to turn out may matter more than which party they say they support. Polls suggest many Americans doubt either party is focused on helping them, while voters on both sides fear what the other might do; that mix of anger and low confidence makes the result hard to predict.

A CNBC survey found 74% of Democrats fear Donald Trump would exceed his constitutional authority if Republicans keep control of Congress, while 54% of Republicans fear Democrats would enact democratic socialist policies. Pew found a 24-point Democratic lead among voters who say they are extremely motivated, but only six points among people who voted in both 2022 and 2024. The Fox News poll cited gives Democrats a 54% to 45% lead on the generic congressional ballot, narrowing to six points among voters certain to participate; the article says Republican turnout could therefore prove decisive in the close House contest.