Democrats projected to keep House majority as GOP turnout lags, CBS poll finds

A CBS News poll projects Democrats will retain their House majority in the 2026 midterms, driven by opposition to Trump administration policies and lower Republican turnout. The GOP vote may be affected by the cost of living, with Republicans less likely to say they will definitely vote. Voters broadly hold the Trump administration responsible for the economy, and most want an end to the war in Iran.

A CBS News poll projects Democrats will retain their House majority in the 2026 midterm elections, driven by opposition to Trump administration policies and a Republican base less likely to vote. The GOP vote may be affected by the cost of living, with Republicans less likely to say they will definitely turn out. Republicans who said their candidates are not talking about the cost of living were found to be less likely to vote. Voters broadly see the Trump administration as responsible for the current state of the US economy. While more voters oppose President Trump than support him, most Republican voters want a candidate who mostly, but not always, agrees with Trump. Democrats do not want a candidate who agrees unilaterally with the national party. On foreign policy, most voters—including one-third of Republicans—want an end to the war in Iran, which most feel has been a major factor in high gas prices. The CBS survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,166 US adults between September 30 and October 2, 2026, with a margin of error of ±2.5 points.