The CBS News/YouGov poll finds opposition to President Trump and Republican policies drives a majority of likely Democratic voters: 54% say stopping Trump is their primary motive, versus 46% who prioritize advancing Democratic policies. Republicans are more often motivated by support for Trump (57%) than by opposition to Democrats (43%). The survey also shows Democrats leading 54% to 46% on the generic congressional ballot, with Trump at a 39% approval rating. The nationally representative poll interviewed 2,460 U.S. adults Sept. 8–11 (±2.3 points).
CBS News/YouGov Poll: More Democrats Motivated To Stop Trump Than To Advance Their Own Agenda Ahead Of 2026 Midterms
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A new CBS News/YouGov survey finds that opposition to President Donald Trump and Republican policies is a stronger motivator for many Democratic voters than enthusiasm for the party's policy agenda as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Top Findings
Motivation: Among likely voters who plan to support a Democrat, 54% say their primary reason is to stop Trump and Republicans from advancing their agenda, while 46% say they are motivated mainly to help Democrats enact their priorities. By contrast, 57% of likely Republican voters say their top motivation is to support Trump and Republican policies, and 43% say they are chiefly motivated to block Democratic policies.
Generic ballot and approval: On the generic congressional ballot among likely voters, Democrats lead Republicans 54% to 46%. President Trump’s overall approval in the poll is 39%, with 61% disapproving.
Endorsement effect: The survey found that 48% of likely voters said a Trump endorsement would make them less likely to vote for a candidate, while 21% said it would make them more likely to support that candidate.
Economy and inflation: The president’s approval on economic management stands at 34%, and only 27% approve of his handling of inflation. Nearly three-quarters of respondents reported that higher prices have made their lives more difficult.
Methodology
The nationally representative CBS News/YouGov survey interviewed 2,460 U.S. adults from Sept. 8–11. The margin of error is ±2.3 percentage points.
Note: Figures reported are from the CBS News/YouGov poll and reflect respondents who qualified as likely voters in the survey.
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