According to CBS News, preliminary exit polling from the 2026 U.S. midterm elections showed President Donald Trump with a 38% approval rating, a result that could mark the lowest level for a president during a midterm election.
The figure was reported as lower than Trump’s first-term level and below George W. Bush’s standing in 2006, when Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump’s role in House voting
About 60% of voters said Trump was a factor in how they voted for the House of Representatives. CBS News said that dynamic was driven mainly by Democratic voters, most of whom said they were voting out of opposition to Trump.
Among Republican voters, only a majority of those in the MAGA camp said they were voting to support Trump. Most non-MAGA Republicans said he was not a factor in their decision.
Senate race projections
CBS News projected Democrat Roy Cooper to win North Carolina’s Senate seat. The result would make him the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state since Kay Hagan in 2008.
Cooper performed better among independent voters and white women than Harris did in 2024, according to the report. A majority of voters said his opponent, Republican Michael Whatley, was too supportive of Trump.
In Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossoff was projected to win 40 minutes after polls closed, defeating Republican Representative Mike Collins.
Ossoff ran strongly among Black voters, with a vote share roughly in line with his 2021 runoff performance, and also made gains among white voters.
In South Carolina, the race between Republican Senator Darlene Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews was still rated too close to call.
