A fresh national survey shows a record share of Americans expressing pessimism about the country's direction just weeks before the midterm elections. According to the latest NBC News Decision Desk poll conducted with SurveyMonkey, 71% of respondents say the U.S. is on the wrong track, while only 29% believe it is headed in the right direction. This marks the first time the right-track figure has dipped below 30% since President Trump returned to the White House.
The poll, which surveyed 19,135 adults between Sept. 28 and Oct. 12, underscores the political headwinds facing the GOP as voters prepare to cast ballots. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
Economy tops voter concerns
Economic anxieties are front and center for many Americans. Thirty-one percent of all respondents, and 35% of independents, identified the economy as the most important issue facing the nation. Personal financial assessments are stark: only 18% say they are better off than a year ago, while 44% report being worse off, and 38% say their situation is unchanged.
Gas prices are also a major worry, with 67% describing the higher costs linked to the ongoing Iran war as a very or somewhat serious problem. Only a third downplay the impact.
Corruption perceptions
Government corruption is seen as a pervasive issue, with 56% of respondents saying it is equally prevalent in both major parties. About 25% say it is a bigger problem in the Republican Party, while 17% point to the Democrats.
These views extend to the Trump administration specifically: 52% consider it more corrupt than previous administrations, 25% say less corrupt, and 23% see it as about the same. This sentiment may influence voter behavior, especially among independents.
Impeachment and stimulus checks
The survey also probed attitudes toward potential Democratic actions if they win the House. A slim majority, 52%, say Democrats should begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, while 48% oppose such a move.
On the president's pledge to send $5,000 checks to every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress, skepticism is widespread: 71% say they definitely or probably do not expect to receive such a payment, while only 14% think they will.
These findings come as Trump's approval ratings sink to new lows, reflecting growing discontent among voters. The polling data aligns with forecasts from Decision Desk HQ, which gives Democrats a 77% chance of retaking the House and a 56% probability of flipping the Senate.
If Democrats do gain control of one or both chambers, Trump would face firm legislative opposition in his final two years. The president's recent defense of a pause on Russia sanctions has already drawn criticism from some GOP senators, highlighting intra-party tensions as the midterms approach.
The survey's findings suggest that economic pressures and corruption concerns are driving the national mood, potentially shaping the outcome of the November elections.
