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The issues that drove voters’ decisions in the midterms
Voters’ concerns about the economy helped shape the midterm election, with many blaming President Donald Trump’s policies for higher prices. Amy Walter said the results also reflected a belief that Trump was focused on his own priorities rather than voters’ needs, making the election a test of confidence in his presidency and his party.
In an exit poll, 63 per cent of voters said Trump’s policies caused higher prices, while 36 per cent said he had the right priorities and 64 per cent disagreed. The interview also pointed to shifts among groups that had supported Trump in 2024: Democrats won Latino voters by 30 points, compared with Kamala Harris’s 12-point lead in 2024, and voters aged 18 to 29 gave Democrats 73 per cent of their vote.
In short
- Economic frustration was a major factor in the midterms.
- Most voters in the poll blamed Trump’s policies for higher prices.
- Democrats made gains among Latino and younger voters.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Voters who opposed Trump’s policies could argue that higher prices and the view that he was prioritising his own agenda showed a loss of confidence in his leadership. The reported shifts among Latino voters and younger voters, alongside the exit poll findings, suggest these concerns helped Democrats make gains.
The case against
Trump’s supporters could argue that an election result reflects a mix of concerns and cannot by itself establish that his policies caused higher prices or that voters rejected his priorities overall. They might also point out that 36 per cent of voters said he had the right priorities, and that the figures show changes in support among particular groups rather than the views of every voter.
Explained simply
Midterm elections are held halfway through a US president’s four-year term. Voters choose members of Congress, as well as some state and local officials; the results can affect how easily the president can advance policies.
The main players are President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, alongside the opposition Democratic Party. Voters’ views of the economy and the president’s priorities can shape support for both parties, while results among groups such as Latino voters and younger people can indicate changes in the electorate.
These elections matter because Congress helps make federal laws and oversee the government. Changes in party support can influence the balance of power and signal how voters feel about the president’s leadership.