Democrats hold 10-point lead over GOP in battle for Congress: Poll

An Emerson College Polling survey released on 30 October found that 52% of likely voters would support a Democratic candidate for Congress, compared with 42% for a Republican. The ten-point lead was slightly narrower than the Democrats’ 11-point advantage in Emerson’s September survey. The poll measured support for the parties nationally, rather than for named candidates in individual districts, as they competed for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.

Emerson surveyed 1,000 likely voters from 24 to 26 October and reported a credibility interval of plus or minus three percentage points. It also found that 76% of Democrats were very excited to vote, compared with 64% of Republicans. President Donald Trump’s approval stood at 37%, with 57% disapproving. The findings pointed to a favourable national climate for Democrats, but a generic ballot poll cannot establish how individual House and Senate races will be decided.