Independent Voters

Seven Weeks To Midterm Elections, And Democrats Are Gaining A Growing Edge Over Republicans

A New York Times-Siena poll, with seven weeks to the Midterm Elections of 2026, is demonstrating a widening lead in the strength of the Democratic Party, to gain control of both houses of Congress from the Republican Party.

Democratic candidates have a lead over Republicans of 51-43, as Americans have anger over the growing economic inflation, the Iran War, Tariffs, the ICE abuses taking place against immigrants with many being citizens, and the growing concern over the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

On a variety of issues, Democrats have substantial leads over Republicans, including:

Health Care D plus 24
Immigration D plus 7
The Deficit D plus 10
The Economy D plus 7
Cost of Living D plus 8
Foreign Wars D plus 7
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict D plus 11

Independent voters strongly prefer Democrats in this election cycle, with 57 percent planning to vote for Democratic candidates.

Even white voters without college degrees are now a majority against Donald Trump, and voters in general see Republicans as more extreme, elitist, and corrupt, and prefer Democrats on cultural and economic issues.

By an 11 point margin, voters prefer a Democratic Congress, rather than a Republican Congress, for the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

Younger voters now favor Democrats by 35 percentage points; Hispanic voters by 43 points; and Independent voters by 23 points.

Only 18 percent of Generation Z voters (under age 30), prefer Donald Trump.

Only 28 percent of voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while the massive number of 71 percent disapprove.

So the political situation for Democrats looks very promising, and one must remember that the party in the White House traditionally loses seats, and often control of Congress, in midterm elections.

Trump Public Opinion Ratings Collapse!

The latest polls indicate Donald Trump is under water in most of the nation, with only a few states being positive toward him and his domestic and foreign policy agenda.

The states that show support of Trump include:

Wyoming
West Virginia
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Idaho
Tennessee
Indiana
Kansas
Mississippi
Alabama
Arkansas
South Dakota
Missouri
Nebraska
Kentucky
Louisiana

After these 16 states, Trump is very unpopular in 7 “battleground” states
including:

Arizona
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
Michigan
Nevada
Georgia

And in crucial states, such as Ohio, Florida, Virginia,and even Texas, Trump is extremely unpopular.

He has lost Generation Z; Latinos; women; African Americans; highly educated voters; those with less than a college degree, and most significantly, Independents.

Tim Walz-JD Vance Vice Presidential Debate Set For October 1

CBS will sponsor a Vice Presidential debate between Democratic nominee Tim Walz and Republican nominee JD Vance on Tuesday, October 1.

The vast and dramatic differences between Walz and Vance will be on display, with Walz having made a great positive impact, and Vance being seen as a total disaster, with some Trump supporters wishing he would disappear.

Vance is making it clear that he is connected to right wing billionaire Peter Thiel, and is perceived as a threat in the future, the true heir of MAGA Republicans, as the long range leader after Donald Trump, who might not survive psychologically through a full term, were he to be elected.

Vance has jumped on “single cat ladies”, and Walz’s long military service as issues, neither of which promotes the Republican party future, as only alienating independent voters, as well as women, young people, and racial minorities, all veering toward the Democrats.

Walz comes across as a very decent, compassionate former educator and coach, in the tradition of Hubert Humphrey and other Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor party luminaries of the past, as well as the present, such as Amy Klobuchar.

The 20 year age difference between Walz and Vance will be an advantage for Walz, while the opposite is the case for the nearly 20 year difference between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, when they have their ABC debate on September 10.

Six Months To Presidential And Congressional Elections

It is precisely six months to the Presidential and Congressional Elections of 2024, and polls indicate an extremely tight race for both the White House and control of both houses of Congress.

However, the fact that Donald Trump is unleashing lunatic statements and authoritarian threats daily, and is mired in a courtroom four days a week, are negatives that are affecting independent voters and undecided voters.

And abortion rights is seen as a definite loser for Trump and Republicans, as the vast majority of those polled, and particularly among women, clearly want women to control their own bodies and destinies.

The issue of the Israel-Hamas War, while creating problems for Joe Biden in Michigan, in particular, seems likely to calm down, as Muslims and Arabs voting for Donald Trump would not promote a different policy, as Trump has a record of working to persecute Muslims and support Israel.

The economy, and particularly inflation, is an issue, but one must remember that Trump did promote the largest tax cut and increase of the national debt for any one term President, and the economy was in free fall due to his inability to deal with the COVID 19 pandemic adequately.

The fight for control of both houses of Congress will be a bitter one, with the likelihood that both houses will have very small margins of the majority, with the House of Representatives likely to go Democratic, but the US Senate likely, at this point, to swing Republican.

So federal judge appointments and more environmental executive orders are crucial for the Democrats and Joe Biden to accomplish in the next six months.

And constantly reminding Americans of the danger to American Democracy cannot be emphasized enough.

75 Days In Office, Donald Trump Is A True Disaster, A Failure On Many Fronts!

We are three quarters of the way through the first 100 Days of President Donald Trump, and he is a true disaster, a failure on so many fronts.

Trump’s public opinion ratings are the absolute worst since public opinion polling began 80 years ago for a new President.

Some Presidents had lower public opinion ratings than Trump, but it took years in office for Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, and George W. Bush to reach such low levels.

Trump has 35 percent approval against 57 percent disapproval in the latest Quinnipiac Poll, and he is lower than Barack Obama ever was.

Among men, he has 39 percent support against 51 percent disapproval.

White voters are 43 percent in favor against 48 percent negative.

Women voters are 31 percent positive against 63 percent negative.

Independent voters are 32 percent for and 57 percent against.

Non white voters are 16 percent in favor and 77 percent negative.

Democrats are 6 percent positive against 91 percent against.

On the other hand, Republicans, living in a parallel universe, are 79 percent in favor and 14 percent against.

On his personal qualities, Trump is majority negative in every area including:

61-34 that Trump is not honest

55-40 that he does not have good leadership skills

57-39 that does not care about average Americans

66-29 that he is not level headed

61-34 that he does not share their values

52 percent are embarrassed that Trump is their President, compared to 27 percent proud

On health care he gets a negative 28-64 rating, negative 61-29 on the environment, 48-41 negative on the economy, 58-35 negative on foreign policy, 49-42 negative on handling terrorism, and 57-39 negative on handling immigration issues.

Meanwhile, Republicans are negative 70-21 for their leadership in Congress, although Democrats are negative 57-34.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is negative 28-52 compared to Nancy Pelosi a negative 30-47 rating

Mitch McConnell is 14-47 negative while Chuck Schumer is negative 25-38.

The situation will not get better, and likely will get worse, as Trump faces foreign policy challenges, particularly North Korea most immediately.