(The Hill) — President Donald Trump’s approval rating is not favorable, with most voters thinking the nation is headed in the wrong direction, per a new poll published on Friday.
An Emerson College Polling survey revealed that 45 percent of participants endorsed Trump’s performance as president, compared to 46 percent who disapproved. Around 9 percent remained neutral or expressed no opinion.
Since assuming office, Trump’s approval rating has declined. A January survey by Emerson College Polling indicated a 49 percent approval versus a 41 percent disapproval rating. By April, these ratings were evenly matched at 45 percent each.
This latest Emerson College Polling survey also found close to 53 percent believed the country was on the wrong track, compared to close to 48 percent of respondents who said the U.S. was headed in the right direction.
While the midterms are more than a year away and Trump and Republicans still have time to shore up their support with voters, the recent polling shows the party has work to do on winning back some of its supporters, particularly in a midterm environment when the president’s party typically faces backlash during the midterms.
The Emerson College Polling survey showed Democrats with a slight advantage over Republicans on a generic congressional ballot, with Democrats receiving close to 43 percent while Republicans received 40 percent. A separate 18 percent said they were undecided.
“Looking ahead to next year’s Midterm Election, the Democrats have a slight edge over the Republicans, with independents breaking for the Democratic candidate 37% to 27%,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted in a press release. “However, a significant 36% of independents are undecided, so this number is expected to shift.”
Still, Republicans are largely expected to keep their majority in the Senate next year while Democrats see their best chance to flip legislative control in the House.
The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted between June 24 and June 25, with 1,000 registered voters surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
