Hopes among Democrats for a sweeping “Blue Wave” in the 2026 midterm elections may be premature, if one major new survey is any guide. A fresh poll from The Wall Street Journal suggests voters see Congressional Republicans as better equipped than Democrats to handle many of the country’s most pressing challenges, even as overall political dissatisfaction remains high.
According to the Journal’s poll, Americans believe Republicans are “best able” to address a wide range of major issues, particularly those that have dominated political debate in recent years. Border security stands out as the GOP’s strongest issue, with Republicans holding a commanding 28-point advantage over Democrats. The survey found 48% of respondents trust Republicans most on border security, compared with just 20% for Democrats. On immigration more broadly, Republicans also enjoyed an 11-point edge.
Those two issues formed the backbone of the GOP’s advantage, but they were not the only areas where voters sided with Republicans. The poll showed Republicans holding a six-point advantage on both the economy and inflation, two topics that continue to weigh heavily on American households. Voters also gave Republicans the edge on tariffs by two points, foreign policy by five points, and the Russia-Ukraine war by four points.
Democrats, however, were not without strengths. Respondents said they trusted Democrats more on vaccine policy, where the party held a nine-point advantage, and on healthcare, where Democrats led by a substantial 15 points. Still, those advantages did not offset Republican gains on the issues voters ranked as most urgent.
Despite Republicans’ edge on many individual issues, Democrats narrowly led on the generic congressional ballot. The poll found Democrats ahead 47% to 43%, a result that underscores the complicated and often contradictory mood of the electorate, with voters dissatisfied overall but still dividing their support along familiar partisan lines.
The Wall Street Journal poll surveyed 1,500 registered voters nationwide between January 8 and January 13. It was released as part of a broader Journal story titled “It’s Trump’s Economy, and Voters are Unhappy With It,” highlighting ongoing frustration with economic conditions.
The survey showed President Donald Trump with a 45% approval rating, down one point from the Journal’s previous poll, while his disapproval rating stood at 54%. Yet even with that dissatisfaction, voters still said Republicans are better suited to handle the economy, suggesting lingering doubts about Democratic alternatives.
Other polling paints an equally grim picture for Democrats. A recent survey from CNN found Democratic lawmakers facing a 72% disapproval rating among Americans. That poll was conducted from January 9 to January 12 and included 1,209 respondents, reinforcing the sense that voters are deeply unhappy with Washington as a whole.
Trump, for his part, has expressed confidence that Republicans can defy historical trends in the 2026 midterms. Earlier this month, he said he believed the GOP would make history with a record-setting midterm performance, calling it an “amazing phenomenon” given that the party holding the White House typically struggles in midterm elections. He said the administration is delivering a successful presidency despite negative headlines.
Days later, however, Trump struck a more measured tone during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, acknowledging that sitting presidents almost always lose ground in midterms, even when they believe they are governing effectively.
Taken together, the polling suggests a volatile and uncertain political landscape. While voters may be unhappy with the direction of the country, they continue to place more trust in Republicans on the issues that matter most, complicating Democratic hopes for a decisive midterm surge in 2026.
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